Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) affect 1 in 10 hospitalized adults in the U.S.1 and are responsible for as many as 60,000 deaths annually.2 For hospitals, this means a financial impact to the tune of $11 billion in preventable costs every year.3 Although hospitals have made significant strides in pressure injury prevention, the clinical and financial toll of HAPIs remains high. As protocols continue to evolve, new research is helping clinicians fine-tune their approach and identify which interventions deliver the greatest impact.
A recent biomechanical engineering study shed light on the effectiveness of ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Foam Dressings. These dressings have a unique multilayer design that proves to play a critical role in protecting at-risk patients from friction, shear, and pressure-related injuries.4
A Dressing That Deforms, So Skin Doesn’t Have To
Multilayer foam dressings have long been a component of pressure injury prevention (PIP) protocols, but until now, little has been understood about what made certain designs more effective than others.
New research data helps fill that gap. Using a novel test apparatus to simulate real-world shearing and compressive forces on the heel, researchers demonstrated how ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Dressing’s non-bonded layers deform internally under pressure. This sliding mechanism, named frictional energy absorber effectiveness (FEAE), helps reduce the shear and pressure forces that contribute to pressure injuries by absorbing 30–45% of the mechanical energy.4
Real-World Results: A 46.5% Drop in HAPIs
Clinical benefits weren’t just seen in the lab. In a 12-year quality improvement project, a 280-bed hospital compared outcomes using three different multilayered foam dressings.
When ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Dressings were introduced (2017–2021), HAPI incidence dropped by 46.5% compared to the previous dressing.5 After switching away from ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Dressings, HAPIs spiked nearly fivefold. Financially, the hospital estimated savings of over $451,000 compared to its most recent alternative, making a compelling case for both efficacy and value.
ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Dressings: A Fully Engineered Solution
ALLEVYN◊ LIFE Dressings drive up to a 71% reduction in HAPI rates in clinical settings5 — a result driven by thoughtful engineering.7-8 Key features include:
- Non-bonded layers that slide to reduce shear and friction.4
- Low-friction top film that minimizes external force transfer.
- Hydrocellular foam for optimal moisture control.
- Gentle silicone adhesive that maintains placement (even after repositioning).
- Compatibility with various medical devices and body contours.
The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) recommends incorporating prophylactic dressings into prevention protocols, noting the growing clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness.9 But with over 6,000 wound care products on the market, not all dressings deliver the same level of protection.
For hospitals seeking to reduce risk, improve patient outcomes, and protect their bottom line, ALLEVYN LIFE offers an evidence-backed solution4 that moves with patients and the demands of modern care.
References:
1. AHRQ National Scorecard on Hospital-Acquired Conditions Updated Baseline Rates and Preliminary Results 2014–2017.
2. Are we ready for this change? Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Web site. https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/resource/pressureulcer/tool/pu1.html. Updated October 2014. Accessed March 11, 2023.
3. AHRQ. Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: a toolkit for improving quality of care. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2014.
4. Marché C, Creehan S, Gefen A. The frictional energy absorber effectiveness and its impact on the pressure ulcer prevention performance of multilayer dressings. Int Wound J. 2024;21(4):e14871. doi:10.1111/iwj.14871.
5. Constable, Stephanie; Spitzer, Mandy. The Role of Value Analysis in Pressure Injury Prevention: A Quality Improvement Project. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs 52(1):p 29-35, January/February 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/WON.0000000000001140.
6. Forni C, Searle R. Economic evaluation of the use of a multi-layer polyurethane foam dressing for the prevention of pressure ulcers in elderly patients with hip fractures. Poster presented at EPUAP annual meeting, September 2018.
*In a pragmatic, randomized, controlled, superiority trial. p=0.001; n=359. Estimated cost savings vs standard preventive care alone; n=359.
7. Forni C, D’Alessandro F, Gallerani P, et al. Effectiveness of using a new polyurethane foam multi-layer dressing in the sacral area to prevent the onset of pressure ulcer in the elderly with hip fractures: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Int Wound J. 2018;15(3):383-390. doi:10.1111/iwj.12875.
8. Forni C, D’Alessandro F, Gallerani P, et al. Effectiveness of using a new polyurethane foam multi-layer dressing in the sacral area to prevent the onset of pressure ulcer in the elderly with hip fractures: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Int Wound J. 2018;15(3):383-390. doi:10.1111/iwj.12875.
9. European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.). EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA: 2019.
