Development and Validation of a Heat Risk Mitigation Tool for Burn Survivors

Burn survivors have an increased risk for heat-related illnesses and a heightened perceptual strain during exercise (thereby impeding physical activity), both due to impaired body temperature regulation. We developed and validated a freely deployed online model that burn survivors can use to estimate their heat risk during physical activity.

Model inputs included environmental conditions, physical activity intensity and duration, body size, clothing, and burn injury size. The developed model predicts heat risk categorized as either low to moderate (change in core temperature <1.7°C) or high to extreme (change in core temperature ≥1.7°C). We compared the core temperature responses and predicted heat risk from laboratory trials conducted in adults 19 to 61 yr of age with well-healed burn injuries ( n = 134) or simulated burn injuries ( n = 157). Burn injury sizes ranged from 20% to 80% of body surface area. Trials were conducted in our laboratory across a variety of environmental conditions (25°C to 39°C and 20% to 40% relative humidity) and exercise intensities (46 to 357 W·m -2 ).

With heat risk as a binary outcome, the predictive accuracy of the model was 85%. The specificity of the model was 85%, and the sensitivity of the model was 79%. The positive predictive value was 27% and the negative predictive value was 98%.

The developed model ( www.bsrcalculator.org ) predicts heat risk across a variety of environmental conditions and exercise intensities. We anticipate that this tool will inform individuals of their potential risk (or lack thereof) associated with performing physical activity in the heat while also promoting a physically active lifestyle in burn survivors.