Hypermetabolism and Lipid Alterations Postburn: A Cardiovascular Perspective.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Metabolic Research
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Severe thermal burns (≥20% TBSA) cause prolonged physiological changes beyond acute care.
• Chronic hypermetabolism, lipid remodeling, and cardiovascular stress persist long after initial injury.
• Long-term cardiometabolic effects and their link to cardiovascular risk are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the pathophysiology of burn-induced hypermetabolism and its impact on lipid profiles and cardiovascular health.
• To highlight the connection between lipid abnormalities and increased cardiovascular risk in burn survivors.
• To evaluate current interventions and identify gaps in long-term care for severe burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on burn pathophysiology, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular outcomes.
• Analysis of lipidomic and clinical data correlating metabolic changes with cardiovascular risk factors.
• Evaluation of current therapeutic strategies and rehabilitation protocols.

Main Results:

• Burn-induced hypermetabolism involves elevated energy expenditure, lipolysis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to atherogenic dyslipidemia.
• Lipid abnormalities include hepatic steatosis, elevated LDL, reduced HDL-C, and hypertriglyceridemia, correlating with increased cardiovascular risk.
• Cardiovascular vulnerability is increased by myocardial remodeling, autonomic dysfunction, and endothelial injury, persisting for years.

Conclusions:

• Severe burns are systemic illnesses with delayed cardiovascular consequences, necessitating a paradigm shift in long-term care.
• Proactive, multidisciplinary cardiometabolic surveillance is essential for postburn recovery.
• Future research should focus on precision metabolic modulation, omics-based monitoring, and tailored cardiovascular risk algorithms.