Influence of gender difference on outcomes of adult burn patients in a developing country

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gender on outcomes among adult burn patients. A retrospective study was conducted on 5061 adult burn patients (16 - 64 years old) admitted to the Vietnam National Burn Hospital over a three-year period (2016 - 2018). Demographic data, burn features and outcome including complications, length of hospital stay and mortality of male and female groups were compared. Results indicated that male patients were predominant (72.8%), younger (35.5 vs. 37.2 years old; p < .001) and admitted sooner to hospital. A greater number of males suffered electrical and flame/heat direct contact injuries, whereas more females suffered scald injury (34.7% vs. 12.2%; p < .001). Burn extent was larger among males (14.9% vs. 12.1%; p < .001). In addition, a higher proportion of deep burn injuries (44.8% vs. 41.2%; p < .05) and number of surgeries (1.2 vs. 1; p < .05), and longer hospital stay (17.8 vs. 15.8 days; p < .001) was recorded among the male group. Post burn complication and overall mortality rate did not differ between the two groups. However, death rate was remarkably higher in the female group when burn extent was ≥ 50% TBSA (72.4% vs. 57.3%; p < .05). In conclusion, burn features and outcomes were not similar between the male and female group. Male patients appear to suffer more severe injury requiring more surgeries and longer hospital stay. However, more attention should be paid to the significantly higher mortality rate among females with extensive burn.