“Pressure ulcers are increasingly common in U.S. hospitalizations. In 2006, there were 503,300 hospital stays during which pressure ulcers were noted—a 78.9 percent increase from 1993 when there were about 281,300 hospital stays related to pressure ulcers. During this same time period, the total number of hospitalizations increased by only 15 percent. Stays with a secondary diagnosis of pressure ulcers increased by 86.4 percent during this period, while stays principally for pressure ulcers increased by 27.2 percent.

Adult hospital stays noting a diagnosis of pressure ulcers totaled $11.0 billion in 2006.”

Click HERE for Statistical Brief # 64 from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.