GITNUXREPORT 2025

Pressure Injury Statistics

Pressure injuries affect millions, preventable with proper skin care and repositioning.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Patients with pressure injuries have a mortality rate of up to 50% within one year of development

Statistic 2

Stage IV pressure injuries have a healing rate of about 40% within three months with optimal care

Statistic 3

The use of foam dressings on pressure injuries can promote faster healing compared to traditional dressings

Statistic 4

Proper nutrition, including adequate protein intake, can improve pressure injury healing rates by 20-30%

Statistic 5

The use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can accelerate pressure injury healing by up to 30%

Statistic 6

The average duration to heal a pressure injury without complications is about 3 to 4 weeks, depending on severity

Statistic 7

Pressure injury recurrence rates are approximately 25% within one year of healing

Statistic 8

The economic burden of pressure injuries in the United States exceeds $11 billion annually

Statistic 9

The average cost of treating a pressure injury ranges from $20,900 to over $150,000 depending on severity

Statistic 10

Pressure injuries contribute to an increased length of hospital stay, with an average increase of 7 days per patient affected

Statistic 11

Approximately 2.5 million pressure injuries are developed each year in U.S. hospitals

Statistic 12

Pressure injuries affect 3 million people worldwide annually

Statistic 13

The prevalence of pressure injuries in long-term care facilities ranges from 11% to 17%

Statistic 14

Pressure injuries are most commonly found over the sacrum and heels, accounting for over 60% of cases

Statistic 15

Up to 23% of pressure injuries develop in hospital patients

Statistic 16

The incidence of pressure injuries in acute care hospitals ranges from 0.4% to 38%

Statistic 17

About 60% of pressure injuries occur in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and wheelchair users

Statistic 18

Pressure injury prevalence among nursing home residents can be as high as 25%

Statistic 19

Cable pressure injuries due to medical devices are an underestimated source, accounting for about 15% of cases

Statistic 20

The pressure injury prevalence in intensive care units (ICUs) is estimated between 4% and 20%

Statistic 21

Percent of pressure injuries that develop in hospitalized patients that are considered unavoidable is roughly 25%

Statistic 22

Pressure injury rates are higher in patients with spinal cord injuries, reaching as high as 70%

Statistic 23

The annual incidence of pressure injuries in U.S. nursing homes is approximately 4.4%

Statistic 24

Pressure injury prevalence is higher in female patients, accounting for approximately 55% of cases

Statistic 25

Preventive measures can reduce the incidence of pressure injuries by up to 95%

Statistic 26

The use of pressure-relieving mattresses reduces the risk of pressure injury development by 60-80%

Statistic 27

Up to 40% of pressure injuries are preventable with proper skin assessment and repositioning

Statistic 28

Early identification of pressure injuries can reduce healing time by up to 50%

Statistic 29

Routine repositioning every two hours is recommended and can decrease pressure injury incidence significantly

Statistic 30

Adequate staffing levels in hospitals can reduce pressure injury rates by up to 45%

Statistic 31

Use of specialized heel protectors can decrease heel pressure injuries by 50%

Statistic 32

Technology-based interventions, such as pressure sensors, have shown to reduce pressure injury development by 35%

Statistic 33

Regular skin assessments reduce pressure injury development by up to 80%

Statistic 34

The use of silicone-based dressings has been shown to improve comfort and promote healing in pressure injuries

Statistic 35

Vaccination among elderly can reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries by up to 15%, by preventing complications that lead to immobility

Statistic 36

Moisture from incontinence increases the risk of pressure injuries by more than 80%

Statistic 37

Patients with a BMI over 30 have a higher risk of developing pressure injuries

Statistic 38

The risk of pressure injury development increases with age, with incidence rates doubling in individuals over 70 years old

Statistic 39

Braden Scale assessment is a reliable predictor of pressure injury risk, with a score below 18 indicating high risk

Statistic 40

Hyperglycemia increases the risk of pressure injuries in diabetic patients by 35%

Statistic 41

Hospitalized patients with low albumin levels are 1.8 times more likely to develop pressure injuries

Statistic 42

Diabetic patients are 2.5 times more likely to develop pressure injuries compared to non-diabetic patients

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Key Highlights

Approximately 2.5 million pressure injuries are developed each year in U.S. hospitals
Pressure injuries affect 3 million people worldwide annually
The prevalence of pressure injuries in long-term care facilities ranges from 11% to 17%
Patients with pressure injuries have a mortality rate of up to 50% within one year of development
The economic burden of pressure injuries in the United States exceeds $11 billion annually
Pressure injuries are most commonly found over the sacrum and heels, accounting for over 60% of cases
Up to 23% of pressure injuries develop in hospital patients
The incidence of pressure injuries in acute care hospitals ranges from 0.4% to 38%
Preventive measures can reduce the incidence of pressure injuries by up to 95%
Moisture from incontinence increases the risk of pressure injuries by more than 80%
The use of pressure-relieving mattresses reduces the risk of pressure injury development by 60-80%
Patients with a BMI over 30 have a higher risk of developing pressure injuries
The average cost of treating a pressure injury ranges from $20,900 to over $150,000 depending on severity

Every year, over 2.5 million pressure injuries plague U.S. hospitals alone, highlighting a silent epidemic that affects millions worldwide, claims up to 50% of affected patients within a year, and costs the U.S. healthcare system over $11 billion annually—making prevention and early intervention more urgent than ever.

Clinical Outcomes and Healing Process

Patients with pressure injuries have a mortality rate of up to 50% within one year of development
Stage IV pressure injuries have a healing rate of about 40% within three months with optimal care
The use of foam dressings on pressure injuries can promote faster healing compared to traditional dressings
Proper nutrition, including adequate protein intake, can improve pressure injury healing rates by 20-30%
The use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can accelerate pressure injury healing by up to 30%
The average duration to heal a pressure injury without complications is about 3 to 4 weeks, depending on severity
Pressure injury recurrence rates are approximately 25% within one year of healing

Clinical Outcomes and Healing Process Interpretation

Despite the promising advances in treatment such as foam dressings, NPWT, and proper nutrition, the sobering reality remains that pressure injuries carry a mortality rate of up to 50% within a year, with a significant chance of recurrence, underscoring the urgent need for preventative vigilance and comprehensive care.

Economic and Healthcare Burden

The economic burden of pressure injuries in the United States exceeds $11 billion annually
The average cost of treating a pressure injury ranges from $20,900 to over $150,000 depending on severity
Pressure injuries contribute to an increased length of hospital stay, with an average increase of 7 days per patient affected

Economic and Healthcare Burden Interpretation

With an annual price tag surpassing $11 billion and treatment costs soaring up to $150,000 per injury, pressure ulcers are not only a drain on resources but also extend hospital stays by a week, proving that prevention truly pays dividends in both health and economics.

Prevalence and Epidemiology of Pressure Injuries

Approximately 2.5 million pressure injuries are developed each year in U.S. hospitals
Pressure injuries affect 3 million people worldwide annually
The prevalence of pressure injuries in long-term care facilities ranges from 11% to 17%
Pressure injuries are most commonly found over the sacrum and heels, accounting for over 60% of cases
Up to 23% of pressure injuries develop in hospital patients
The incidence of pressure injuries in acute care hospitals ranges from 0.4% to 38%
About 60% of pressure injuries occur in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and wheelchair users
Pressure injury prevalence among nursing home residents can be as high as 25%
Cable pressure injuries due to medical devices are an underestimated source, accounting for about 15% of cases
The pressure injury prevalence in intensive care units (ICUs) is estimated between 4% and 20%
Percent of pressure injuries that develop in hospitalized patients that are considered unavoidable is roughly 25%
Pressure injury rates are higher in patients with spinal cord injuries, reaching as high as 70%
The annual incidence of pressure injuries in U.S. nursing homes is approximately 4.4%
Pressure injury prevalence is higher in female patients, accounting for approximately 55% of cases

Prevalence and Epidemiology of Pressure Injuries Interpretation

With millions affected worldwide and vulnerable populations bearing the brunt, pressure injuries quietly underscore the urgent need for proactive prevention in healthcare, lest we allow these preventable wounds to become the most persistent stain on patient care.

Prevention and Management Strategies

Preventive measures can reduce the incidence of pressure injuries by up to 95%
The use of pressure-relieving mattresses reduces the risk of pressure injury development by 60-80%
Up to 40% of pressure injuries are preventable with proper skin assessment and repositioning
Early identification of pressure injuries can reduce healing time by up to 50%
Routine repositioning every two hours is recommended and can decrease pressure injury incidence significantly
Adequate staffing levels in hospitals can reduce pressure injury rates by up to 45%
Use of specialized heel protectors can decrease heel pressure injuries by 50%
Technology-based interventions, such as pressure sensors, have shown to reduce pressure injury development by 35%
Regular skin assessments reduce pressure injury development by up to 80%
The use of silicone-based dressings has been shown to improve comfort and promote healing in pressure injuries
Vaccination among elderly can reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries by up to 15%, by preventing complications that lead to immobility

Prevention and Management Strategies Interpretation

With up to 95% of pressure injuries being preventable through vigilant skin assessments, repositioning, and innovative strategies like pressure sensors and specialized dressings, it’s clear that proactive prevention not only saves patients from pain and extended recovery—potentially halving healing times—but also underscores the vital role of staffing, technology, and even vaccinations in transforming pressure injury care from reactive to remarkably proactive.

Risk Factors and Patient Characteristics

Moisture from incontinence increases the risk of pressure injuries by more than 80%
Patients with a BMI over 30 have a higher risk of developing pressure injuries
The risk of pressure injury development increases with age, with incidence rates doubling in individuals over 70 years old
Braden Scale assessment is a reliable predictor of pressure injury risk, with a score below 18 indicating high risk
Hyperglycemia increases the risk of pressure injuries in diabetic patients by 35%
Hospitalized patients with low albumin levels are 1.8 times more likely to develop pressure injuries
Diabetic patients are 2.5 times more likely to develop pressure injuries compared to non-diabetic patients

Risk Factors and Patient Characteristics Interpretation

Given that moisture, high BMI, age, poor nutrition, and diabetes significantly elevate pressure injury risks, it’s clear that preventing these injuries requires a comprehensive approach akin to addressing multiple interconnected vulnerabilities in a health chess game.