For a study, researchers sought to assess the risk variables for using vasopressors and the emergence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs).
In a 12-bed medical ICU at a community hospital. Between January 2017 and January 2019, 123 patients who had a minimum of 24 hours of continuous vasopressor therapy were included. Vasopressor dosage and HAPI incidence were the main outcomes evaluated, with a subgroup analysis depending on the type. Secondary outcomes were the number of vasopressors used, the time it took for the injury to occur, the mean arterial pressure, mechanical ventilation, the severity, and the location.
The overall incidence of HAPIs was 20.3%, with a low-dose cohort incidence of 17% and a high-dose cohort incidence of 22.4% (P =.317). The subgroup analysis based on vasopressor type showed no differences. According to the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel severity staging, the sacrum and coccyx were the most frequently injured areas, with the majority of injuries falling into stages 1 or 2. There were no associations between the prevalence of HAPI and variables including the use of multiple vasopressors, mechanical ventilation, mean arterial pressure, or the length of vasopressor administration. However, when compared to the low-dose group, the high-dose cohort’s documentation of the time to harm was considerably shorter (157.58 vs. 330.86 hours, P< .05).
The incidence of HAPIs was the same in the groups receiving low- and high-dose vasopressors. It was crucial to closely monitor patients using vasopressors for HAPIs since patients who received greater doses of vasopressors had documented pressure injuries earlier than the low-dose cohort.
