Keywords
Pressure injury
Intensive care
Risk factors
Adult
How to Cite
Copyright © | All rights reserved.
The journal holds the exclusive copyright for the publication of this article under the terms of Brazilian law 9610/98.
Partial reproduction
The use of parts of the texts, figures and questionnaire of the article is free, being mandatory the citation of the authors and journal.
Total reproduction
It is expressly prohibited and must be authorized by the journal.
Abstract
Objective: To analyze risk factors, prediction methods, and prevention strategies for pressure injuries in adult patients in intensive care units, with emphasis on the role of the nursing team. Methods: Integrative literature review, with searches in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases, encompassing publications between 2015 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Sixteen studies were included, selected according to eligibility criteria, and the data extracted into a structured spreadsheet including author, year, methodological design, factors analyzed, and main results. Results: Pressure injuries are associated with advanced age, clinical frailty, comorbidities, immobility, use of medical devices, and intensive therapies such as mechanical ventilation, sedation, and neuromuscular blockers. The knowledge and practice of the nursing team directly influence the implementation of preventive measures. Final considerations: Evidence-based strategies, combining risk assessment, proactive prevention, and multidisciplinary action, are fundamental to reducing the incidence of pressure injuries and improving the quality of care in critically ill patients.
References
BAZALIŃSKI DA, et al. Selected Biochemical Blood Parameters and a Risk of Pressure Ulcers in Patients Receiving Treatment in Intensive Care Units. Medicina, 2021; 57: 177.
CAMPOS MM, et al. Risco de lesão por pressão em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva. Revista Cuidarte, Bucaramanga, 2021; 2: e1196.
CHUNG ML, et al. Risk Factors for Pressure Injuries in Adult Patients: A Narrative Synthesis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 761.
CONSTANTIN AG, et al. Incidência de lesão por pressão em unidade de terapia intensiva para adultos. Braz. J. Enterostomal Ther., 2018; 16: e1118.
FELISBERTO MP, TAKASHI MH. Atuação do enfermeiro na prevenção e cuidado ao paciente com úlcera por pressão na unidade de terapia intensiva. REVISA, 2022; 11(1): 42-7.
GONÇALVES AD, et al. Uma mudança de cúbito na prevenção de lesão por pressão em pacientes em terapia intensiva. Revista Nursing, 2020; 265: 4151-4160.
GOU LI, et al. Risk factors for medical device-related pressure injury in ICU patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 2023; 18(6): e0287326.
JIA YJ, et al. Incidence, prevalence and risk factors of device related pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit: A meta-analysis of 10,084 patients from 11 countries. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2023.
KURTGÖZ AS, et al. Intensive care nurses' knowledge and practices regarding medical device-related pressure injuries: A descriptive cross-sectional study International. Wound Journal, 2024; 21: e70088.
LABEAU SO, et al. Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the Decub ICUs study. Intensive Care Med, 2021; 47: 160–169.
LEE SY, et al. Neuromuscular blocking agents and opioids are major risk factors for developing pressure injuries in patients in the intensive care unit. Korean J Intern Med., 2022; 37: 1186-1194.
LIN FF, et al. Pressure injury prevalence and risk factors in Chinese adult intensive care units: Amulti-centre prospective point prevalence study. International Wound Journal, 2022; 19: 493–506.
LOPES MA, TEIXEIRA FB. Fatores predisponentes para o desenvolvimento de lesão por pressão: revisão integrativa. Revista Saúde Dinâmica, 2024.
LOPES NA, et al. Lesão por pressão em um grupo de pacientes críticos: incidências e fatores associados. Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem, 2021; 42: e20200001.
LV LI, et al. Biomarker of pressure injuries in critically ill adults based on large-scale medical datasets: a multi-center prospective study. Journal of Tissue Viability, 2025; 34: 100912.
NATIONAL PRESSURE INJURY ADVISORY PANEL (NPIAP); EUROPEAN PRESSURE ULCER ADVISORY PANEL (EPUAP); PAN PACIFIC PRESSURE INJURY ALLIANCE (PPPIA). Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers/injuries: clinical practice guideline – Quick Reference Guide (abridged). 2025. Disponível em: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6479484083027f25a6246fcb/t/67bd4fbfd6865e7a07acc9e8/1740459974549/QRG-abridged-25Feb2025.pdf. Acessado em: 12 de dezembro de 2025.
RODRIGUES JM, et al. Incidência e fatores relacionados ao aparecimento de lesões por pressão em unidade de terapia intensiva. ESTIMA, 2021; 19: e1121.
SANTOS CM, et al. A estratégia pico para a construção da pergunta de pesquisa e busca de evidências. Revista Latino-am, 2007; 15(3).
SOUSA JE, et al. Escalas utilizadas para mensurar o risco de lesão por pressão em pacientes hospitalizados: uma revisão. Revista Enfermagem Atual In Derme, 2023; v. 97, n. 2, e023059.
TANG WE, et al. Vasoconstrictor Agent Administration as a Risk Factor for Pressure Injury Development in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Advances in wound care, 2022; 12: 10.
TAYYIB NA, COYER FI. Banco de dados JBI de revisões sistemáticas e relatórios de correção, 2016; 14(3):p 35-44.
TEIXEIRA AO, et al. Factors associated with the incidence of pressure wounds in critical patients: a cohort study. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 2022; 75(6): e20210267.
WHITTEMORE RO, KNAFL KN. The integrative review: updated methodology. Methodological issues in nursing research, 2005; 52(5): 546–53.