Resumen de The effectiveness of three types of alternating pressure air mattresses in the prevention of pressure ulcers in Belgian hospitals.

Demarré Demarré, Sofie Verhaeghe, Ann Van Hecke, Maria Grypdonck, Rodrigo Siqueira Batista, Katrien Vanderwee, Dimitri Beeckman

• To compare the effectiveness of multi-stage and one-stage alternating low-pressure air mattresses (ALPAM) and alternating pressure air mattress (APAM) overlays in preventing pressure ulcers among hospitalized patients, data were pooled (N?=?617) from a study of patients allocated to multi-stage ALPAM (n?=?252) or one-stage ALPAM (n?=?264), and another study of patients allocated to APAM overlay (n?=?101). Cumulative pressure ulcer incidence was 4.9% (n?=?30) over 14 days. Fewer ulcers developed on multi-stage ALPAM compared with APAM overlay (OR?=?0.33; 95% CI [0.11, 0.97]), but no difference was found between one-stage ALPAM and APAM overlay (OR?=?0.40; 95% CI [0.14, 1.10]). Time to develop ulcers did not differ by mattress type.