What do systematic reviews say?

Reactive gel surfaces vs reactive air surfaces

It is very uncertain whether reactive gel surfaces changes proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer compared with reactive air surfaces (very low certainty).

• Alternative reactive support surfaces (non‐foam and non‐air‐filled) for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.8 [0.36, 1.77]
  1 study · 66 participants
  Very low

Reactive gel surfaces on operating tables followed by foam surfaces on ward beds vs alternating pressure (active) air surfaces on operating tables and subsequently on ward beds

Reactive gel surfaces on operating tables followed by foam surfaces… may leads to higher proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer compared with alternating pressure (active) air surfaces on operating tables and… (low certainty).

• Alternative reactive support surfaces (non‐foam and non‐air‐filled) for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 4.53 [1.31, 15.65]
  2 studies · 415 participants
  Low

Reactive air surfaces vs reactive gel surfaces

It is very uncertain whether reactive air surfaces changes proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer compared with reactive gel surfaces (very low certainty).

• Reactive air surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.25 [0.56, 2.77]
  1 study · 66 participants
  Very low

Foam surfaces vs reactive gel surfaces

• Foam surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 270 participants
  Very low

Foam surfaces vs reactive foam and gel surfaces

• Foam surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 182 participants
  Very low

Alternating pressure (active) air surfaces on operating tables and subsequently on ward beds vs reactive gel surfaces on operating tables followed by foam surfaces on ward beds

Alternating pressure (active) air surfaces on operating tables and… may leads to lower proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer compared with reactive gel surfaces on operating tables followed by foam surfaces… (low certainty).

• Alternating pressure (active) air surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.22 [0.06, 0.76]
  2 studies · 415 participants
  Low