Topic Overview

Pressure sores occur most frequently in people who are confined to beds or chairs. In many cases, a person with a pressure sore also has one or more medical conditions that may affect treatment and healing. These conditions include:

• Malnutrition (chronic lack of good nutrition) and dehydration (lack of enough fluid in the body).
• Diabetes.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Thyroid disease.
• Heart failure.
• Heart valve disease.
• Blood vessel disease.
• Impaired immune system.
• Cancer.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Depression and psychosis.
• Some medications.
• Muscle shortening (contracture) in the main body joints.
• Recent hip fracture.