The Benefits of Pressure Redistributing Foam

A recent study shows pressure redistributing foam mattresses reduced the risk and postponed occurrence of pressure injuries by 88 percent.

Pressure injuries, often referred to as bed sores, are areas of localized damage to the skin due to pressure or pressure combined with shear. Pressure injuries create a significant burden on the health care system with evidence suggesting that they can extend patient stay by 2-50 days and represent an annual cost of $2.2 - $3.6 billion (USD) in treatment.

The study analyzed data from more than 254 intensive care unit (ICU) patients, half of whom used pressure redistributing mattresses (PRFM) and half who used non-pressure redistributing mattresses (NPRFM). Patients in NPRFM were more than 6 times as likely to develop pressure injuries as compared to those in PRFM. Additionally, the length of stay increased by an average of 6 days for those who developed pressure injuries.

The study concluded that "in both clinical practice and in research, it is recommended to use a pressure redistributing foam mattress for patients at risk of developing pressure injuries, when possible."

Read the full results of the study here.