By: James Pitt  Jul. 20, 2018

Pressure ulcers are wounds that develop due to reduced blood flow, typically in patients who lie in the same position for long periods. Elderly and critically ill patients are at particular risk. A study based on 2006-2007 Medicare data found that patients with pressure ulcers are more likely to die in-hospital (odds ratio 2.81); have more than double the average length of stay; and are more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge (odds ratio 1.33).