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The Relationship of Nutrition and Pressure Ulcers

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Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Wound healing is intricately linked to nutrition. Severe protein-calorie undernutrition in humans alters tissue regeneration, the inflammatory reaction, and immune function (1). Undernourished patients are more likely to have postoperative complications than well-nourished patients (2). After vascular surgery, hypoalbuminemia and low transferrin levels have predicted wound healing complications (3). Hospitalized patients with severe undernutrition are at a higher risk for death, sepsis, infections, and increased length of stay (4).

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  1. David R. Thomas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Durham VA Medical Center and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Connie Watkins Bales PhD, RD, FACN

  2. Louisville VA Medical Center and University of Louisville Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Louisville, KY, USA

    Christine Seel Ritchie MD, MSPH

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Thomas, D.R. (2004). The Relationship of Nutrition and Pressure Ulcers. In: Bales, C.W., Ritchie, C.S. (eds) Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-391-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-391-0_12

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5355-4

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