A survey of pressure sore prevalence in hospitals in the greater Paris region.

In 1993 a preliminary survey was conducted in the Hospital of Gonesse to examine pressure sore prevalence. The averages obtained showed that 5.4% of patients in hospital suffer from pressure sores. This prompted a further investigation involving 12,050 patients: 5.2% were found to have pressure sores. Patients with pressure sores were significantly older (76.4 +/- 14 years) than the average age of patients in the study, and 42% of pressure sores were found in patients with neurological pathology. The majority of patients (57%) had a single pressure sore. Most were grade I lesions (38%). The greatest number of pressure sores were found on the medium and long-stay wards. A nationwide complementary survey is now being undertaken to confirm these overall results.