Prevalence of complicated surgical wounds and related factors among adults hospitalized in public hospitals*

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of complicated surgical wounds and its related factors in hospitalized adults. Method: In this cross-sectional study, information from 251 patients hospitalized in seven public hospitals in Manaus, Brazil, and at risk of suffering surgical site complications after undergoing surgery was analyzed. Data were collected via interviews, physical examinations, and a medical record review from March to June 2015. Prevalence rate was estimated as the ratio between individuals with complications and patients at risk. To explore associated variables, individuals with and without complications were compared via 5% significant logistic regression and bivariate analyses. This study was approved by a research ethics committee. Results: Overall, 15 patients (6%) showed complicated surgical wounds. General hospitalization (p < 0.003), presence of ecchymosis, (p < 0.001), and men (p = 0.047) increased patients’ probability of developing complications in 13.9, 10.1, and 8.2 times, respectively. Conclusion: Assessing the prevalence of complicated surgical wounds and its associated factors in adults contributes to their epidemiological understanding, highlighting prevention targets and making data available for scientific comparisons.