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A Study on Pressure Monitoring and Relieving Systems

G Durgadevi, P Jamuna, J Janet Priskilla , M Princy

Pressure ulcers are wounds caused to skin and tissue lying beneath because of persistent pressure on the skin. Bedsores most often develop on skin that covers bony areas of the body, such us the heels, ankles, hips and tailbone. People mostly affected by bedsores are those with a poor medical condition that has removed their ability to adjust positions, necessitate them to use a wheelchair or confines them to a bed for a long time. Bedsores can easily develop and are often difficult to treat. Pressure ulcer, also known as pressure sores or bed sores is found to prevail in 10% of hospitalized patients as per the statistical report provided by the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) in the year 2009. Yet another report provided by the Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) divulges a fear-provoking reality that 1-25 percent of admitted patients with this particular setback, terminated in death. This poses a serious threat of 2.5 million patients being affected per year.Pressure ulcers cost several billion dollars per year in the US. Cost of individual patient care ranges from $20,900 to 151,700 per pressure ulcer. Medicare estimated in 2007 that each pressure ulcer added $43,180 in costs to a hospital stay. Pressure ulcers may be associated with severe pain. About 60,000 patients die as a direct result of a pressure ulcer each year. More than 17,000 lawsuits are related to pressure ulcers annually. It is the second most common claim after wrongful death and greater than falls or emotional distress.