Application of Skin Barrier Monitoring Technology in the Early Prediction of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: A Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION

Assessing the risk of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in clinical settings can be subjective, which makes early detection difficult. We aim to verify the ability of skin barrier monitoring technology (SBMT) in predicting IAD.

METHODS

This was a cohort study. Using a convenience sampling method, 282 patients who were admitted to adult intensive care units were included in the study and were monitored for 7 days or until the day of IAD (less than 7 days). The risk of IAD was assessed with the perineal assessment tool (PAT), and skin barrier indicators of the perianal area were measured with a skin barrier instrument once a day.

RESULTS

SBMT was better at predicting early IAD than the perineal assessment tool. Relative transepidermal water loss (R-TEWL) was positively correlated with the risk of IAD. Based on the optimal cutoff value for R-TEWL (47.5 g/m2h), the Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the incidence of IAD in the high-risk group was 9.701-fold higher than that in the low-risk group (hazard ratio: 9.701, 95% confidence interval: 4.560-20.640; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SBMT can objectively and accurately predict IAD.