Burn Injuries at Jordan University Hospital: A Five-Year Retrospective Study with Historical Comparison.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Burn injuries represent a significant global health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• Contemporary epidemiological data on burn admissions in Jordan are limited, with the last comprehensive report from Jordan University Hospital (JUH) being over 40 years old.
• This study addresses the need for updated data by examining burn admissions at JUH from 2016-2020.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, management strategies, and patient outcomes of burn admissions to JUH.
• To compare current burn injury data with historical and regional trends.
• To identify factors influencing hospital length of stay (LOS) in burn patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study design was employed, including all consecutive patients admitted to the JUH burn unit between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020.
• Data on demographic and clinical variables were extracted from electronic and paper medical records using a standardized case-report form.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics for injury patterns and bivariate tests and multivariable linear regression to identify predictors of LOS.

Main Results:

• The study included 575 patients, with a median age of 19 years and 43.5% being children. Partial-thickness burns were most common (73.9%), with scalds as the leading cause (60.7%), predominantly occurring in domestic settings (92.5%).
• The median length of hospital stay was 6 days, and the mortality rate was 2.1%.
• Factors independently associated with longer LOS included burn degree, etiology, total body surface area (TBSA) burned, surgical grafting, and adverse clinical events, while escharectomy was associated with a shorter LOS.

Conclusions:

• Domestic scald injuries in children continue to be the primary burn pattern in Jordan.
• Despite advancements in care, mortality rates have significantly decreased compared to previous decades.
• Future prevention strategies should focus on household safety and child supervision, complemented by ongoing investment in specialized burn care to further enhance patient outcomes.