What Cochrane and NICE Say About Foam Mattresses and Pressure Ulcers
Cochrane evidence finds that foam alternatives to standard hospital foam mattresses reduce pressure-ulcer incidence in at-risk people, and NICE advises high-specification foam for at-risk adults.
Key points
- The evidence. A Cochrane review of support surfaces found that foam alternatives to standard hospital foam mattresses reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in people at risk (relative risk 0.40, 95 percent confidence interval 0.21 to 0.74).
- For buyers. These sources support specifying a suitable foam surface for at-risk patients.
- What it means for you. Hospital and care buyers can use these sources to justify a foam specification.
- More from the news desk. Explainer · Bedroom lighting Tunable-White and Smart Bulbs for Bedrooms How tunable-white and smart bulbs work, what the circadian science supports and how to set a simple bedroom lighting routine.
The evidence
A Cochrane review of support surfaces found that foam alternatives to standard hospital foam mattresses reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in people at risk (relative risk 0.40, 95 percent confidence interval 0.21 to 0.74). It found the relative merits of alternating-pressure and constant low-pressure devices unclear.
The guidance
NICE guideline CG179, which replaced earlier pressure ulcer guidance, recommends a high-specification foam mattress for adults admitted to secondary care or assessed as being at high risk in primary and community care, according to a mirrored text of the guideline. Check NICE for the exact wording.
For buyers
These sources support specifying a suitable foam surface for at-risk patients. Clinical teams assess risk and choose the surface.
What it means for you
Hospital and care buyers can use these sources to justify a foam specification. See our hospital mattress guide and supplier page.
Sources
- Cochrane: support surfaces for pressure ulcer prevention (CD001735) Source
- NICE CG179: pressure ulcers prevention and management Source
Links were checked when this post was written. Pages change; check the original for the current wording. Where sources are secondary coverage, the post says so.
More from the news desk
Tunable-White and Smart Bulbs for Bedrooms
How tunable-white and smart bulbs work, what the circadian science supports and how to set a simple bedroom lighting routine.
Background guideRead →Explainer · Sleep technologyContactless Sleep Sensing vs Wearables Compared
How radar, under-mattress sensors and wearables track sleep, what each can measure and where each falls short.
Background guideRead →Explainer · Bedding and mattress industryDigital Product Passports for Bedding Exporters
What a digital product passport is, why the EU is introducing them and what mattress and bedding exporters can prepare.
Background guideRead →General information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor about symptoms or medical devices.
Related reading
Questions?
Ask Sleepwit on WhatsApp.
