Incidence and Prevalence of Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI) in Pediatric population - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Hospital acquired pressure injury (HAPI) is a serious patient safety issue that adversely affects patient's well-being and increases healthcare costs dramatically. Prevalence and incidence studies estimate the burden of PI to allow decision-makers to set priorities and allocate financial resources. However, the evidence of prevalence and incidence in pediatric population is scarce. This study is expected to systematically quantify the burden and identify the most frequently occurring HAPI stage(s) and anatomical location(s). Methods: Observational studies were searched on databases including PubMed, Medline (via Ovid), EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (via EBSCO), and ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health. The quality of the studies was appraised. The Random effect models, subgroup analysis and meta-regression were employed due to substantial heterogeneity. Results: Seventeen studies were included. The pooled prevalence and incidence of HAPI was 11.1% (95% CI 7.8 to 14.5) and 14.2% (95%CI 7.3 to 21.1) respectively. Stage I accounted for 54.5%. The most affected body sites were head, face, ankle and foot. Conclusion: Study findings revealed that HAPIs are serious adverse events. iv The majority of these injuries are avoidable as they are superficial. Results recommended using appropriate assessment tools for different pediatric age groups and implementing effective preventive measures and treatment strategies.