The effect of COVID-19 in a newly established burn center

Abstract

Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on epidemiological features, burn agent, burn percentage, and hospitalization time in a burn center. Methods This single-center, retrospective study included a total of 401 patients admitted to our study center between October 2019 and July 2020. The patients who were admitted before March 1, 2020, were considered the pre-March group, and those who were admitted after March 1, 2020, were considered the post-March group. According to their age, the patients were further divided into groups as those aged ≤ 18 years and those aged > 18 years. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, burn agent, burn surface area, COVID-19 status, and treatment and follow-up data were recorded. Results Our study results showed no significant difference in the number of patient admission, age, and sex of patients, burn agents and length of hospital stay before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions Burn centers can work safely in COVID-19 outbreak, paying special attention to precautions mandated by the national and global health authorities. However, the increase in pandemic burden may force the burn centers to be converted into alternate COVID-19 facilities. In such cases, the care of burn patients may pose a great problem.

The effect of COVID‐19 pandemic on the number of patients in burns services

“…5 In addition, Dayı et al reported that burn injuries were most common in the 0 to 2 age group. 10 In these studies, as in our study, no effect of the COVID-19 pandemic was not found on the age distribution of burn patients. We think that the main reason for the difference in age groups is that there are burn centres in our city that treat both adult and paediatric patients, and these patients prefer the relevant centres.…”

“…On the other hand, in the study of Akkoç et al, the most burned patient group before and after COVID‐19 was found to be 1 to 5 years old group 5 . In addition, Dayı et al reported that burn injuries were most common in the 0 to 2 age group 10 . In these studies, as in our study, no effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic was not found on the age distribution of burn patients.…”

Challenges in Burn Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review

“…Although some burn units have reported their measures [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], there are no data on the impact of these with regard to treatment outcomes. Most of the data published in the literature thus far refer to epidemiological and demographic data in addition to injury and treatment characteristics of burn patients [ 8 , 15 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”