Published in:
01-06-2014 | Original Article
Regional differences in the incidence of inpatients with pressure ulcers in Germany
Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 3/2014
Login to get accessAbstract
Aims
The population-based incidence of pressure ulcers shows large differences between the 16 federal states in Germany. The present study analyses the association between state-specific pressure ulcer incidence and selected structural variables.
Subjects and methods
Based on the Diagnosis Related Groups used for diagnosis-specific hospital billing, the population-based incidence of pressure ulcers as primary and secondary diagnosis was calculated for each German state. Data were also stratified for grade (all pressure ulcers vs. grades 3 and 4 only). Ten variables derived from data collected by the German Federal Statistical Office were used to describe of state-specific healthcare structures.
Results
Significant correlations were seen between the state-specific incidence of pressure ulcers as primary and secondary diagnosis per 100,000 and the number of full-time employees in nursing homes per 100,000 (p < 0.1; correlation factor of –0.43 and –0.44, respectively), the number of patients per doctor in hospitals (p < 0.05; correlation factor 0.5 and 0.6, respectively) and for the state-specific incidence of pressure ulcers as primary diagnosis and the number of deaths per 100,000 (p < 0.05; correlation factor of 0.7).
Conclusion
Differences in the population-based incidence of pressure ulcers between the 16 German states seem to be influenced by structural differences in patient care. Further examination of these associations could lead to important political approaches for the reduction of pressure ulcers in Germany.