Predictive factors of mortality in burn patients

Abstract

SUMMARYBurn mortality statistics may be misleading unless they account properly for the many factors that can influence outcome. Such estimates are useful for patients and others making medical and financial decisions concerning their care. This study aimed to define the clinical, microbiological and laboratorial predictors of mortality with a view to focus on better burn care. Data were collected using independent variables, which were analyzed sequentially and cumulatively, employing univariate statistics and a pooled, cross-sectional, multivariate logistic regression to establish which variables better predict the probability of mortality. Survivors and non-survivors among burn patients were compared to define the predictive factors of mortality. Mortality rate was 5.0%. Higher age, larger burn area, presence of fungi in the wound, shorter length of stay and the presence of multi-resistant bacteria in the wound significantly predicted increased mortality. The authors conclude that those patients who are most apt to die are those with age > 50 years, with limited skin donor sites and those with multi-resistant bacteria and fungi in the wound.

Factors associated with survival of burned patients

“…In other studies with patients over 50 years old it was found a higher probability of mortality [15]. Olaitan et al [20] found in their group patients older than 60 years old that presented a higher risk of death.…”

“…Furthermore, they also found increased survival in the group of 0 to 10 years old, compared with the group of 71 to 80 years old. Age is one of the predictors of complications in burns [7,8,15,20,21]. In disagreement with the data cited [7,8,15,20,21], in the results there was no predominance of age on survival.…”

“…Santi et al states that age is also a major determinant of patient prognosis [13]. It is well established in the literature that death possibility at the extremes of age (children and elderly) are higher [14,15]. On the other hand, others have found bimodal presentation different in age, with the first peak at six years old and second peak among young adults, differing from the bimodal distribution of the age extremes [12,[16][17][18].…”

Queimaduras em crianças e adolescentes: caracterização clínica e epidemiológica

“…Identifying the body area affected (17) is important for evaluating the risk of the injury because it could be associated with significant anatomical, physiological, endocrinological and immunological alterations that need care to prevent or minimize the extent of damage.…”

Factors associated with mortality in adult hospitalized burn patients in Tehran

“…In addition to the physical and psychological morbidity that burns impose upon the injured patients and their families, these types of injuries are associated with a huge financial burden on the medical care system. [1,2] Advances in burn care and understanding some aspects of the pathophysiologic process of burns have motivated researchers to identify risk factors for mortality in burn patients, resulting in the development of several models for the prediction of mortality following burn. [3][4][5] These models are of great value, enabling the physician to recognize patients who are more likely to recover fully or those with determinant factors that are life-threatening.…”