Mortality After Thermal Injury: No Sex-Related Difference

Abstract

There is no relevant sex-related difference in survival after thermal injury. The conclusion is, however, tempered by the few deaths, particularly among younger adults.

Burn related mortality in Greater Manchester: 11-year review of Regional Coronial Department Data

“…Continued improvements in all aspects of the care of victims of burn injury have resulted in reported mortality rates showing marked improvement in developed countries from 54 to 100% at the beginning of the twentieth century to currently reported rates of around 4-6% [30][31][32][33][34][35]. This is attributed not only to advancements in the organisation, delivery and practice of burn care but also targeted efforts to prevent injuries [8].…”

Inclusion of coexisting morbidity in a TBSA% and age based model for the prediction of mortality after burns does not increase its predictive power

“…Mortality increases with age and the size of the burn, and inhalation injury often worsens the prognosis [5,9,10,15,16]. The role of sex, however, is conflicting [5,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

Outcome of burn care : the mortality perspective

“…As well as age and size of burn, smoke inhalation injury has been shown to increase the risk of mortality, [41][42][43] while the results about the effect of sex are conflicting. [44][45][46][47][48][49] Clinical observations suggest that the patient's previous medical history plays an important part in the prognosis, and this has been confirmed in some large studies, but not in others.…”

“…34,45,47,63,64 However, risk-adjusted mortality may or may not be another difference between the sexes in burn care. 34,[45][46][47]65 A recent Swedish study in general intensive care showed equal mortality between men and women, but a different allocation of resources for the benefit of the men. 66 A female disadvantage in the level of medical care provided for general trauma and critical care patients has also been reported previously.…”

“…34,47 This is a unique finding in this context, both as a method and in a national or international perspective. We have shown equality among sexes in delivery of therapeutic interventions and outcome, which is a pleasing conclusion that can lead to further speculation -particularly, if the difference in outcome between the sexes at other burn centres depends on the underlying severity of injury, or an unequal use of resources.…”