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Many dietitian’s caseloads are likely to include patients with pressure ulcers, as nutritional intervention is a vital part of their management. However, there can be confusion when it comes to the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Even down to the name; is it a pressure sore, injury or ulcer? In this blog, we ask dietitian Annina Whipp to bust some of the common myths surrounding nutrition and pressure ulcers.
NHS Improvement (NHSI) revised the definition and measurement of pressure ulcers to support a more consistent approach across all trusts at both local and national levels.¹
The term ‘pressure ulcer’ is used to refer to a localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, caused by pressure alone, or pressure in combination with shear (gravity force from a chair or bed pushing down on the patient's body).¹˒² The damage can be present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful.¹ Pressure sore and injury are now considered outdated terminology.
There are many risk factors for developing pressure ulcers, with mobility, incontinence, nutritional status and age being the most common.³ Patients with malnutrition or low body weight are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers due to a lack of natural padding on prominent bony sites such as the sacrum, hips, back and shoulders. At the other end of the spectrum, overweight patients are at risk of pressure ulcers due to a greater weight bearing load through pressure areas such as the sacrum.⁴˒⁵ Therefore, pressure ulcers are not exclusive to older or malnourished patients as sometimes expected.
Effective screening using validated tools (e.g., the Norton scale for pressure ulcers⁶ and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool for malnutrition⁷) alongside timely interventions, including nutrition support and regular repositioning, can help maintain tissue viability.³ With proactive care, pressure ulcers should not be inevitable in at-risk groups.
Insufficient energy, protein and fluid intake has been found to decrease the tolerance of skin to pressure, increasing the risk of breakdown.³ Poor nutritional status can impair wound healing and alter immunity, making the cycle of pressure ulcers difficult to break in malnourished patients.³
Optimising nutritional intake is important in the management of pressure ulcers and all patients with pressure ulcers should be referred for a dietetic assessment.⁸ Energy requirements for patients who have or are at risk of pressure ulcers and malnutrition are 30-35 kcal/kg body weight/day.⁹ Protein recommendations are 1.25-1.5 g/kg/day.⁹ Nutritional goals should be adjusted according to the patient’s clinical condition and weight change. Fluid intake should be tailored to the patient based on comorbidities, clinical goals and symptoms.⁹
In the presence of obesity, optimal nutritional intake should be encouraged as evidence has shown that restrictive diets low in energy and protein can compromise wound healing.⁹
With pressure ulcers, it is recommended that a multi-component treatment approach is taken.² This includes regular repositioning, wound dressing, nutrition support, analgesia and antimicrobial therapy.² Each aspect has a vital part to play in the healing and prevention of pressure ulcers.
A food first approach is the preferred way to meet nutritional requirements.⁸˒¹⁰ This is achieved through a high-protein, high-energy diet consisting of regular meals, snacks, nourishing drinks and food fortification (e.g., the addition of full fat milk, olive oil, cream and cheese to meals). Patients with pressure ulcers have higher protein requirements. For example, a 70kg man with a pressure ulcer would need 87-105g of protein per day. Here’s an example of what that would look like:¹¹
Breakfast:
2 medium eggs on 2 pieces of toast with fresh tomatoes
Lunch:
100g tinned tuna with medium jacket potato and green salad
Evening meal:
90g beef mince with spaghetti and broccoli and peas
125g yoghurt
Snack:
250mls milk and a banana
It is clear from the above meal plan that achieving protein requirements via diet may be difficult for some patients, particularly those who are older or unwell as appetite is often limited. Guidelines advise that if patients with pressure ulcers are unable to meet nutritional requirements via diet, oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are indicated to increase energy and protein intake.⁸˒¹⁰
ONS are available in a range of styles and flavours. Low volume supplements (e.g., compact versions, or shot style supplements) and high protein ONS (≥ 20% energy from protein) are useful for helping patients with pressure ulcers to achieve energy and protein requirements.¹²˒¹³
The prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers includes repositioning, wound dressing, incontinence management, nutrition support, analgesia and antimicrobial therapy, which span several specialities.³ This multi-modal approach demands the input of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) including a consultant/registrar, tissue viability nurse, nurse, healthcare assistant, dietitian, physiotherapist, pharmacist and occupational therapist. The collaborative working of an MDT emphasises the importance of treating the whole patient.
A programme commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement for healthcare professionals.
2. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.
Supports all European countries in the efforts to prevent and treat pressure ulcers.
A campaign to help carers identify and prevent pressure ulcers in the community.
4. National Pressure Injury Advisory Pannel.
The international clinical practice guideline for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
5. NICE Guideline 179: Pressure ulcers: prevention and management.
