There are several risk factors forpressure ulcers, which are now referred to as pressure injuries. They are skin sores that typically develop over bony areas, such as the lower spine, hips, and elbows. Also known as bedsores, pressure injuries are a common problem for people who have low mobility and spend most of their time in bed.

Pressure injuries are painfuland can be difficult to treat.Preventing pressure injuriesis critical to maintaining comfort, and treating them promptly is essential. But how do you know if your loved one is at risk of developing one? Should you be concerned?

Yellow Dog Productions / Getty Images

Mature man asleep on bed, close up

Immobility

People at the greatest risk of developing pressure injuries are those who are immobile. Once a person loses the ability to move and becomes inactive, the risk of developing bedsores increases.​

Sensory Loss

A loss of sensation as the result ofspinal cord injuryorneurological diseaseincreases the risk of developing pressure injuries.A person with normal physical sensation can feel pain and will generally feel uncomfortable after spending a lot of time in one position. With sensory loss, a person may not feel uncomfortable or recognize the need to reposition.

Changes in Mental Status

Likewise, a person withan altered level of consciousnessmay not feel discomfort or may not be awake enough to physically reposition themselves if they do.

Shear

The spine may slide down in the bed while the skin and fatty tissues stay in place. This type of force causes damage to the underlying blood vessels, resulting in a large area of internal tissue damage and less noticeable damage at the surface of the skin.

Friction

Moisture

Moisture is a common problem in people who have become incontinent and have to wear diapers. Moisture from sweat can also be a problem. Moisture removes oils from the skin that normally act to protect it and soften the skin’s connective tissues, making the effects of shear and friction more damaging.

Incontinence

Incontinence of bowel movements and urine creates moisture on the skin and increases the risk of tissue breakdown.Fecal incontinence has the added risk of damage to the skin from bacteria and enzymes in the stool and also increases the risk of infection.

Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition can lead to weight loss, which can then increase the pressure on bony areas of the body.Proper nutrition is also important to the healing of pressure ulcers.

Age

As a person ages, the skin becomes thinner and more fragile, increasing the risk of skin breakdown.

If your loved one has any of these risk factors, it’s important for you to take steps to prevent a pressure ulcer from developing.

Medical Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes, all cause impaired circulation, increasing the risk of pressure injuries.

And long stays In intensive care or long surgical procedures can lead to prolonged skin tissue pressure.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and presentation.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):881-890. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.069Sprigle S, McNair D, Sonenblum S.Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with mobility-related disabilities.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2020 Mar;33(3):146-154. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000653152.36482.7dGillespie BM, Walker RM, Latimer SL, Thalib L, Whitty JA, McInnes E, Chaboyer WP.Repositioning for pressure injury prevention in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;6(6):009-958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009958.pub3Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Prevention and management.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):893-902. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.068

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and presentation.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):881-890. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.069Sprigle S, McNair D, Sonenblum S.Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with mobility-related disabilities.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2020 Mar;33(3):146-154. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000653152.36482.7dGillespie BM, Walker RM, Latimer SL, Thalib L, Whitty JA, McInnes E, Chaboyer WP.Repositioning for pressure injury prevention in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;6(6):009-958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009958.pub3Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Prevention and management.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):893-902. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.068

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and presentation.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):881-890. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.069Sprigle S, McNair D, Sonenblum S.Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with mobility-related disabilities.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2020 Mar;33(3):146-154. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000653152.36482.7dGillespie BM, Walker RM, Latimer SL, Thalib L, Whitty JA, McInnes E, Chaboyer WP.Repositioning for pressure injury prevention in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;6(6):009-958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009958.pub3Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Prevention and management.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):893-902. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.068

Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Pathophysiology, epidemiology, risk factors, and presentation.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):881-890. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.069

Sprigle S, McNair D, Sonenblum S.Pressure ulcer risk factors in persons with mobility-related disabilities.Adv Skin Wound Care. 2020 Mar;33(3):146-154. doi: 10.1097/01.ASW.0000653152.36482.7d

Gillespie BM, Walker RM, Latimer SL, Thalib L, Whitty JA, McInnes E, Chaboyer WP.Repositioning for pressure injury prevention in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;6(6):009-958. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009958.pub3

Mervis JS, Phillips TJ.Pressure ulcers: Prevention and management.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019;81(4):893-902. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.068

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?