Experiences from Burn Registry Pilot Study in Northern India: Patient Profile and Implementation Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Trauma Surgery
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Burns are a significant public health issue in India, leading to high mortality and disability rates.
• A national burn registry is crucial for improving burn injury prevention and management.
• This study details the first pilot burn registry in India.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report patient profiles from India's first pilot burn registry.
• To analyze burn injury determinants, mortality factors, and predictors of poor recovery.
• To provide insights into the implementation of a burn registry.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, multicentric burn registry implemented in five burn centers in northern India.
• Enrollment of 908 burn patients from August 2020 to March 2022.
• Descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses were used.

Main Results:

• Flame (37%), hot liquid (28%), and electric (28%) burns were most common.
• Major burns (≥20% Total Body Surface Area [TBSA]) affected 48% of patients.
• Higher mortality and poor recovery odds were linked to TBSA >40%, electric burns, and non-accidental burns, particularly in females.

Conclusions:

• The pilot burn registry provides valuable data on burn patient profiles and injury patterns in India.
• Key predictors of mortality and poor recovery include high TBSA, electric burns, and non-accidental mechanisms.
• Expanding the registry's scope is recommended for enhanced burn care planning and delivery.