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

In India, burns represent a serious public health concern due to high death and disability rates. A national burn registry was proposed under the National Program on Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries. This study reports experiences from the first pilot burn registry in India, presenting patient profiles and implementation perspectives. Five burn centers were selected to implement a prospective, multicentric burn registry in northern India. Every burn patient at the study sites who met the inclusion criteria was recruited. Patients' sociodemographic and burn injury profiles, determinants of mortality, and predictors of poor recovery outcome (death or discharge with disability) are presented based on descriptive, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses. From August 2020 to March 2022, a total of 908 patients were enrolled, with 61% being male and 39% female. Approximately 43% of acute burn patients were referred from other health facilities. The most frequent causes of burns were flame (37%), hot liquid (28%), and electric (28%). Accidental burns accounted for 88% of cases, with 73% occurring at patients' homes, and 48% being classified as major burns (≥20% Total Body Surface Area [TBSA]). Mortality was significantly higher among female patients with TBSA higher than 40% and non-accidental burns. The odds of poor recovery were higher for TBSA >40%, electric burns, and non-accidental burns. The implementation experience highlights the need to broaden the scope of the burn registry to include more comprehensive data, which can enhance the planning and delivery of burn care services.