Similar to other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, what you don’t see can hurt you. Unfortunately, just because you can’t see symptoms or indicators, it doesn’t mean damage or harm isn’t being done.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is affecting the whole world.1 As a result, there are many hospitalized patients and increased demands on the healthcare system.

The occurrence of pressure injuries is not limited to acute settings. Anyone can potentially develop a pressure injury. The main causes of pressure injuries, also known as pressure ulcers, are pressure, shear and microclimate. However, other factors such as age, mobility, obesity, medication and malnutrition all affect a patient’s susceptibility to developing one.

Bed sore, decubitus ulcer, pressure sore, and most recently, pressure injury. These are all common terms that refer to tissue damage that results from pressure.

In recent months, I have become aware of several friends and family members who are facing the challenge of caring for loved ones at the end of their lives, commonly known as palliative care or hospice care.