Efficacy and safety of EHO-85 versus hyper-oxygenated fatty acid in stage 1 pressure injuries

What is it about?

Abstract Background Pressure injuries (PIs) remain a clinical challenge, especially in immobile and elderly patients. EHO-85 is a multifunctional amorphous hydrogel formulated with moisturising agents, a barrier polymer and Olea europaea leaf extract, which provides anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of EHO-85 compared to a standard hyper-oxygenated fatty acid formulation (HOFA) on Stage 1 PI treatment. Methods In an open-label, multicenter trial, 50 adults were randomised to receive each treatment for 14 days, with continued use in high-risk patients. Primary endpoints included changes in lesion status using Transparent Disc Technique (TDT) and quality of life (QoL). Secondary endpoints included time to QoL and discomfort improvements, and safety outcomes over a 45-day (D45) follow-up. Results Both treatments improved TDT scores and QoL, with EHO-85 showing greater QoL improvement at D45 (p=0.038) and reduced discomfort at D14 (p=0.018) among patients who discontinued treatment. Blanchable skin improved in both groups, though without significant differences. No adverse events occurred and compliance was high. Conclusion EHO-85 demonstrated comparable clinical performance to the HOFA, with additional subjective benefits and sustained improvement after discontinuation. Implications in clinical practice These findings support EHO-85 use as a safe, patient-friendly option for early-stage PIs, ensuring high compliance and satisfaction, especially useful in older patients, emergency care and hospital settings. Given the similarity in pathophysiological mechanisms to conditions like diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), EHO-85 could be further used in early DFU treatment and broader skin care for diabetic patients.

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