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Epidemiology and mortality of adult burns in Catalonia
J P Barret1, P Gomez, I Solano
1Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burn Unit, Hospital General i Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
This study analyzes burn injuries in Catalonia, finding that contact burns, inhalation injury, age, and burn size increase mortality. Current prognostic tests may not accurately predict outcomes, necessitating better tools.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Burn Care
- Public Health
Background:
- Burn injuries remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally.
- Catalonia experiences a burn incidence of 31.2 per 100,000 person-years, necessitating specialized care.
- The Vall d'Hebron hospital system serves 6 million people, treating approximately 1814 emergency burn cases annually.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of burn injuries in Catalonia.
- To identify factors associated with increased mortality in burn patients.
- To evaluate the efficacy of current prognostic tools for burn injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of burn patient data from the Vall d'Hebron Burn Center.
- Review of treatment protocols including early serial debridement and cerium nitrate sulfadiazine.
- Comparison of observed mortality rates with predictions from the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index.
Main Results:
- Overall mortality rate was 3.49%, with 75% of deaths occurring within the first week.
- Contact burns, inhalation injury, patient age, and burn size were identified as significant mortality predictors.
- Inhalation injury and ARDS, though low in incidence, were associated with high mortality.
- Pre-existing conditions did not significantly impact survival in this patient cohort.
- Treatment outcomes were comparable to existing literature.
Conclusions:
- Burn care in Catalonia faces challenges with specific factors impacting mortality.
- The Abbreviated Burn Severity Index showed disparities, indicating a need for improved prognostic assessments.
- Development of more accurate and applicable prognostic tests is crucial for optimizing burn patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Burn injuries still produce significant morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The incidence of burns in Catalonia is similar to other countries, with 31.2 per 100000 person/year referred to a specialized unit for definitive treatment. The Burn Center of the Vall d'Hebron hospital system is located at the General Hospital. It is the only facility for burns in the state of Catalonia. The catchment population is 6 million people, with 1814 +/- 89 burned patients treated in the emergency room per year and 396 +/- 15 of them admitted per year. Overall mortality is 3.49%. Inhalation injury and ARDS have a low incidence in our series with a high mortality. Factors associated with an increase in mortality are contact burns, inhalation injury, age and burn size. Pre-existing conditions did not affect survival in our series and 75% of all deaths occurred in the first week. Patients were treated with early serial debridement and cerium nitrate sulfadiazine, with results comparable to others in the literature. Mortality rates were compared to the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index, with a disparity in results, advocating the necessity to find a better and more applicable prognostic test for the outcome of burn injuries.