Retrospective Psychosocial Risk Model for Post-Hospital Telogen Effluvium in Patients with Pressure Ulcers

The study investigates the role of psychosocial factors in the development of telogen effluvium, a temporary form of hair loss, in patients with pressure ulcers post-hospitalization. By reviewing the medical records of 92 hospitalized patients, 36 cases of telogen effluvium were identified. The research developed the Score Psicosocial de Riesgo para Efluvio Posthospitalario (SPREP), a risk model based on factors such as prolonged hospital stay, social isolation, emotional disorders, social work intervention, and psychological care requests. Patients scoring ≥4 on the SPREP had a significantly higher risk of developing telogen effluvium, with a ROC curve area of 0.83. The study concludes that documented psychosocial distress may significantly contribute to telogen effluvium, and the SPREP model could help identify at-risk patients, though external validation is recommended for broader clinical application.