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Is the Increase in Record of Skin Wounds in Hospitalized Patients in Internal Medicine Units a Side Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Author

Listed:
  • Leticia Nieto-García

    (School of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Adela Carpio-Pérez

    (Internal Medicine Service, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • María Teresa Moreiro-Barroso

    (Internal Medicine Service, University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Francisco Javier Rubio-Gil

    (Health Care Quality Unit, University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Emilia Ruiz-Antúnez

    (Training, Development and Innovation Area, University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Ainhoa Nieto-García

    (School of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Montserrat Alonso-Sardón

    (Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health Area, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
    Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain)

Abstract

Wound care is an important public health challenge that is present in all areas of the healthcare system, whether in hospitals, long term care institutions or in the community. We aimed to quantify the number of skin wounds reported after and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive longitudinal retrospective study compared of wound records in patients hospitalized in the internal medicine service during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (from 1 March 2020, to 28 February 2021) and previous-year to the outbreak (from 1 January 2019, to 31 December 2019). A sample of 1979 episodes was collected corresponding to 932 inpatients, 434 from the pre-pandemic year and 498 from the first year of COVID-19 pandemic; 147 inpatients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection (3.2%). The percentage of wound episodes in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than the pre-pandemic year, 17.9% (1092/6090) versus 15% (887/5906), with a significant increase in the months with the highest incidence of COVID cases. This study shows an increase in the burden of wound care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it could be attributable to the increase in the number of patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection in internal medicine units.

Suggested Citation

  • Leticia Nieto-García & Adela Carpio-Pérez & María Teresa Moreiro-Barroso & Francisco Javier Rubio-Gil & Emilia Ruiz-Antúnez & Ainhoa Nieto-García & Montserrat Alonso-Sardón, 2023. "Is the Increase in Record of Skin Wounds in Hospitalized Patients in Internal Medicine Units a Side Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2228-:d:1047669
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