Memory foam mattresses ''help reduce pressure sores''
17/08/2011
There are various purported health benefits to using memory foam mattresses, but one study believes they can help lower the incident rate of bed sores in hospital patients.
Carried out by Millman on behalf of the Society of Actuaries, the report found that hospitals could potentially lower treatment bills for pressure sores by changing the type of mattress patients sleep on.
Published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, the study claimed that the treatment of pressure ulcers incurs a considerable cost for hospitals, but is easily preventable.
Study lead author Ba' Pham from the University of Toronto said: "It's just a fact that people don't make the link between the risk of a hard surface to bed sores. They're not paying attention to the problems."
With early prevention, the amount of pressure sores received in emergency departments fell from 1.9 per cent to 1.48 per cent.
Posted by Elizabeth Mewes
