Poster: Incontinence & Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis in Acute Care: A Retrospective Analysis of Total Cost of Care and Patient Outcomes from the Premier Healthcare Database

Incontinence damages the tissue integrity of the skin, which leaves patients susceptible to pressure injuries and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Both conditions are associated with higher rates of adverse outcomes. Susan Kayser and her coauthors evaluated the prevalence of incontinence and treatment of IAD to determine associations with economic and clinical outcomes in their poster presentation at the Fall 2021 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care.

The study population was drawn from the Premier Healthcare Database (15+ million patient admissions and 937 participating hospitals). Inclusion criteria included being older than 18 years and admitted between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019. Outcomes were compared for the following patient populations: continent versus incontinent and incontinent without IAD treatment versus incontinent with IAD treatment. Chi-square tests compared binary outcomes, and t-tests compared continuous outcomes.

The authors concluded that patients who are incontinent have a higher cost of care, longer hospital stay, higher risk of hospital readmission, and higher risk of pressure injury. Being treated for IAD was correlated with worse outcomes compared with patients who are either continent or incontinent.

Prevalence of incontinence and IAD treatment were lower than published findings. Per the literature, tracking of incontinence in hospitalized patients is suboptimal. IAD prevalence may be underreported due to the absence of ICD-10-CM codes.

Poster HE-007 was featured at SAWC Fall 2021.