Predictors of short-term outcomes of burn in a newly established burn centre in Iran

Aim: This study aimed to determine the predictors of hospital stay and mortality in patients with burns.

Design: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Methods: This study was performed on 626 medical records in Velayat Subspecialty Burn and Plastic Surgery Center in Rasht, Iran, during 2008-2013.

Results: Men comprised 78.4% of the study population. Overall, 50.2% of the participants lived in rural areas, and 72.5% were married. The majority of burns occurred at home (49.5%), and thermal factor (87.4%) was the major cause of burn injuries. Also, 6.9% of the patients died after burns. The mean length of hospital stay was 12.62 ± 13 days. Age (OR = 1.07), total body surface area (TBSA%) (OR = 1.12) and length of ICU stay (OR = 1.06) were the strongest predictors of mortality. Gender (IRR = 0.85), TBSA% (IRR = 1.01), location of burn (IRR = 1.1), skin graft (IRR = 2.12), length of ICU stay (IRR = 1.04), re-hospitalization (IRR = 1.77) and burn degree (IRR = 1.09) were the predictors of the length of hospital stay.

Conclusion: BSA is still an important predictor of mortality and length of hospital stay, as the most important short-term outcomes of burns.