November 21st 2019 is World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day. Beginning in 2012, World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day is a global, annual event in which industry, healthcare professionals, the public and the media come together to raise awareness of pressure injuries.

World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics state that worldwide obesity has almost tripled since 1975; in 2016, over 650 million individuals were classed as obese.1 In 2016/2017 there were a total of 617,000 NHS admissions where obesity was recorded as either a primary or secondary diagnosis, an increase of 13% from the previous year.2

The negative effects of excessive moisture at the skin are well known. Excessive moisture weakens the linkages between the collagen fibres in the dermis and softens the stratum corneum, leading to the skin becoming macerated or “boggy”. This maceration increases the skin’s susceptibility to shear, friction and deformation, ultimately increasing the susceptibility to pressure injury formation.

For several years the term “bed sores” were used to describe pressure injuries. More recently, the use of this term has been abandoned to reflect the fact that pressure injuries are not just present in those confined to the bed; with a growing appreciation of the need to implement pressure injury prevention strategies outside of the bed.

Pressure injuries (also known as pressure ulcers), are characterised by localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear1.

As patient age and acuity levels continue to rise, increasing frailty, complex underlying chronic diseases and rising obesity add to the daily challenges faced by clinicians. These challenges include pressure injuries; wounds characterised by localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear.1

Extract from Clinical Research Poster: Easing the Burden of Choice: A Concept to Map the Relative Performance Characteristics of Product Combinations in Clinical Practice:

Extract from Clinical Research Poster: Easing the Burden of Choice: A Concept to Map the Relative Performance Characteristics of Product Combinations in Clinical Practice: Introduction: The heel is known to be a particular risk area for pressure ulcers (PU). A newly designed active support surface* includes an internal cell deflate feature to provide complete heel offloading and is intended for use in all clinical settings.

Movement, be it spontaneous and independent or physically assisted by others, is arguably the pivotal protective mechanism by which an individual avoids the risk of pressure injuries. Although multi-factorial in their origin, by definition pressure injuries cannot occur without loading or pressure on the tissues.1 There are many harmful effects of these wounds, but a wide range of technologies available today can aid in their prevention and treatment (Learn more in our article "5 pressure injury prevention technologies.")

The International Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management Guidelines discuss how managing microclimate can provide an environment conducive to injury prevention and tissue repair. As such the guidelines recommend the need for additional features such as the ability to control moisture and temperature when selecting a support surface.1