Mortality associated with burn injury- a cross sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

BackgroundBurn injuries are a major cause of medico legal deaths in Pakistan. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the mortality rate related to different types of burns injuries.FindingsThis was an observational prospective cross sectional study conducted in Burns Ward of Civil Hospital, Karachi during a period of two years from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2011. Data was collected over a questionnaire containing demographic variables as well as date of burn, date of the death (if patient expired), total body surface area involved, cause and manner of burn. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS v. 16. A total of 1979 patients were admitted to the department during the study period. Out of them, 715 died, hence a mortality rate of 36.12%. Out of the 715 patients, 380 (53.1%) were males and 335 (46.9%) were females. Mortality was highest in age-group 16–30 years (n = 395, 55.2%). Majority of the deaths were accidental (n = 685, 95.8%). Fire burns was found to be the most common cause of death (n = 639, 89.3%). 35% (n = 252) of the patients who died had more than 60% of total body surface area involved in burns.ConclusionMeasures must be taken to inform the general population of the possible causes of these injuries, and to enable the people to be prepared to face any such circumstances.

Burns in Israel, comparative study: Demographic, etiologic and clinical trends 1997–2003 vs. 2004–2010

“…Conversely, patients with fire/flame burns or subject to explosions, were at a higher risk of mortality (10.98% and 7.53%, respectively) often tending to include additional injuries, such as inhalation injuries or additional trauma and therefore constitute a significant mortality risk [17]. This concurs with other studies that found that fire was reported to be the most common cause of death [18]. However, there was no significant difference reported between the years 2004-2010 and 1997-2003.…”

Burns in Nepal: A population based national assessment

“…In Nepal, data acquired from hospital-based studies have been inconsistent in the commonest burn age demographic. While some studies found that the majority of burns occurred in adolescents <15 years old [30][31][32], others demonstrated that age of majority of patients affected and also of those resulting in mortality ranged from 16-40 [33,34] Our results revealed the largest proportion of burns in the age group 25-54 (2.22%), with those aged 0-14 having the second largest proportion (2.08%). Our data highlight that the burns in Nepal has an adult preponderance; unlike other LMICs where burn is regarded as a disease mainly of children.…”

“…In a retrospective review of burn patients admitted to Oman's National Burns Unit (NBU) between 1987 and 2011, of 3531 burn patients evaluated, flames and scalds were responsible for 88.4% of burn [32]. Other studies further deconstructed this category, noting that b u r n s 4 1 ( 2 0 1 5 ) 1 1 2 6 -1 1 3 2 flame burns accounted for over two-thirds of burn, with scald comprising one-third or less of the total percent [32][33][34][35][36]. Of approximately 307,000 home injuries reported during 2000-2002 in a national injury surveillance system in Iran, about 125,000 cases (41%) were unintentional burns with 65.2% of domestic injuries occurred in the living rooms or bedrooms followed by 27% in the kitchen, and with scald being the most common type of burn accounting for 77.7% of all burns [37].…”

Clinico-epidemiological profile of burns cases admitted to a tertiary care hospital in a coastal area of South India

“…Similar observations were noted in studies done at Karachi and in central part of India which have reemphasized the correlation. 11,17 More than three fourth of cases were accidental in nature in the present study followed by the suicidal burns. Similar findings were reported from studies conducted across the country.…”

“…This is in conformity with the findings of the study conducted in Iran and Karachi. 16,17 There is a decline in the self-repair mechanism of the body tissues as the age increases due to slowing down the metabolic process ultimately leading to complications and mortality.…”