Burns in patients over 60 years old: epidemiology and mortality

Epidemiology and mortality among burn patients over age 60 years who were admitted to the Burn Centre of La Fé Hospital (Valencia, Spain) between 1 January 1988 and 1 January 1991 have been studied. A total of 443 patients (7.8 per cent of all presenting patients) were hospitalized during this 3-year period; of these, 69 (15.5 per cent) were over 60 years old. There were 40 females and 29 males (mean age, 72.2 years). Mean burn area was 21.6 per cent of total body surface, and the most commonly involved regions were the lower limbs (81 per cent). Fire flames were the most common cause of burns (65.2 per cent) and produced the most extensive lesions. Eight-five per cent of the accidents occurred at home, and winter was the season of highest incidence. Patient mortality was 33.3 per cent, the most common causes of which were hypovolaemic shock during the first 24 h and pneumonia in the later stages.