Effect of burn sites (upper and lower body parts) and gender on extensive burns' mortality

Our recent literature survey indicated a lack of clinical assessment of the influence of gender and site of burn injury on the outcome of patients with extensive burns. This report examines the effect of burn sites and gender on extensive burns' mortality. Data was gathered from 283 patients with burns larger than 65% of the total body surface area (TBSA) above the belt line or below the belt line; and without underlying diseases and inhalation burn injury. Patients were classified according to gender, site of injury (upper and lower body parts) and hospital stay period. Mortality rates of each category were then compared with each other. The hospital stay period in the female group was significantly higher compared with the male group (P<0.001) and the mortality rate among the female patients was higher compared with the male patients (P=0.004). Although the mortality rate in lower body part of the male group was significantly higher in comparison with the upper body part burn (P=0.001), there was no difference in mortality rate of upper versus lower body part in the female group. The mortality rate was generally higher among the female patients. Additionally, higher mortality rate was observed among male patients with lower body part burn compared with injuries of male patients with upper body part burn.