Skin property can predict the development of skin tears among elderly patients: a prospective cohort study.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify skin properties that may be used to predict the development of a skin tear (ST) among elderly patients. A prospective cohort study was conducted among elderly patients aged 65 and older (N = 149) at a long-term medical facility in Japan over an 8-month period. Skin properties at baseline were measured on the forearm using a 20-MHz ultrasound scanner, which measured the thickness of the dermis layer and low-echogenic pixels, and skin blotting method, which evaluated the levels of collagen type IV, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the main confounders were obtained using the Cox proportional hazard model. A total of 52 STs were recorded among the 21 patients, resulting in an incidence rate of 1·13/1000 person-days. The predictor of STs was dermis thickness (HR = 0·52; 95% confidence interval = 0·33-0·81; P-value = 0·004). The cut-off point for dermis thickness was 0·80 mm (area under the curve = 0·77; 95% confidence interval = 0·66-0·88; P-value = 0·006). Our results suggest that measuring the dermis thickness at baseline is an easy and accurate way to identify a high-risk patient.

• Authors: Yuiko Koyano, Gojiro Nakagami, Shinji Iizaka, Junko Sugama, Hiromi Sanada
• Journal: International wound journal (Int Wound J) Vol. 14 Issue 4 Pg. 691-697 (Aug 2017) ISSN: 1742-481X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 27758078 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2016 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Forearm (physiology)
• Humans
• Japan
• Lacerations (etiology, physiopathology)
• Male
• Proportional Hazards Models
• Prospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Rupture, Spontaneous (physiopathology)
• Skin (physiopathology)
• Skin Aging (physiology)
• Skin Physiological Phenomena