Which of the following statements about risk factors is accurate?

Which of the following statements about risk factors is accurate?

• A. Smoking is the sole determinant.
• B. Aging changes increase susceptibility to skin breakdown.
• C. Hydration completely prevents skin breakdown.
• D. Proper wound care eliminates risk.

Answer: (B)

Risk of skin breakdown in older adults is shaped by many factors, not a single cause. Aging brings changes that heighten vulnerability: skin becomes thinner and less elastic, subcutaneous fat and cushioning decline, moisture balance can be poor, and blood flow and healing may be slower. Add in comorbidities, immobility, limited nutrition, and factors like moisture, friction, or shear, and the overall susceptibility to pressure injuries increases. That’s why the statement about aging-related changes increasing susceptibility best captures the issue. Smok­ing is a risk factor as part of a broader set, but it isn’t the sole determinant. Hydration helps skin health but does not completely prevent breakdown. Proper wound care supports healing but does not eliminate the risk of developing breakdown in the first place.

Risk of skin breakdown in older adults is shaped by many factors, not a single cause. Aging brings changes that heighten vulnerability: skin becomes thinner and less elastic, subcutaneous fat and cushioning decline, moisture balance can be poor, and blood flow and healing may be slower. Add in comorbidities, immobility, limited nutrition, and factors like moisture, friction, or shear, and the overall susceptibility to pressure injuries increases. That’s why the statement about aging-related changes increasing susceptibility best captures the issue.

Smok­ing is a risk factor as part of a broader set, but it isn’t the sole determinant. Hydration helps skin health but does not completely prevent breakdown. Proper wound care supports healing but does not eliminate the risk of developing breakdown in the first place.