The Change of Clinical Features and Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Pressure Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably and negatively affected numerous lives and economies worldwide; specifically, it has led to delays in seeking medical treatment among many people [1-3]. Delaying or avoiding seeking medical advice can result in worsened symptoms, delayed evaluation, and treatment complications [4-7]. Moreover, the pandemic has significantly impacted health-care systems, leading to numerous issues including shortages of medical staff, beds, equipment, medicines, and isolation facilities. The concern of cross-contamination-where COVID-19 may spread within wards unknowingly-has also increased the emotional burden among health-care workers [8-10]. Pressure injury (PI) is a common health issue particularly among older people who have physical limitations or are bedridden. PI management often requires a long-term individualized plan. Failure to implement this strategy may influence the quality of life and may cause wound-related psychosocial issues (e.g., low self-esteem), increase health-care expenditures, and shorten survival among the patients [11]. Moreover, long-term PIs are prone to infection and bleeding, which may lead to sepsis or anemia [12-14]. The current study explored whether COVID-19 pandemic-related changes affected the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with PIs.

Official Title
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Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Conditions
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Pressure Injury, COVID-19

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: COVID


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: all patients who received debridement or flap-reconstruction surgery for Pressure injury at Wan Fang Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who underwent debridement or flap-reconstruction surgery across the pre-COVID and COVID periods were excluded from the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| pre-covid group<br>Each surgical procedure was considered an independent event. , the January 2016-December 2019 and January 2020-December 2021 intervals were defined as pre-COVID and COVID periods, respectively. | |
| covid group<br>Each surgical procedure was considered an independent event. , the January 2016-December 2019 and January 2020-December 2021 intervals were defined as pre-COVID and COVID periods, respectively. | Procedure: COVID<br>* Each surgical procedure was considered an independent event. Moreover, the January 2016-December 2019 and January 2020-December 2021 intervals were defined as pre-COVID and COVID periods, respectively.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| flap surgery outcomes | complete wound healing, major and minor complications, and recurrence. | from January 2016 to December 2021 |