Epidemiology, Causes and Outcome of Burns in Women From Southern Iran: 2009-2011

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.

Dental health status and oral health behaviours of patients with facial burn in Pakistan

Background

There is a limited understanding about the oral health of patients with facial burn, hence the aim was to describe the oral health status and the related risks factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study had randomly and systematically recruited facial burn patients from the Burn Care Center, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from June of 2016 to July of 2017. Intraoral examination recorded the DMFT, CPI and OHI-S. Information on the socio-demographic status, self-perceived oral health, oral health behaviours were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and; the burn characteristics were obtained from the patients’ medical record. The t-test, ANOVA, SLR, and chi-square test were used to examine the relationship between oral health and each factor. A parameter was derived from the clinical indices using the principal component analysis and used in the multiple linear regression analysis to determine the important factors associated with oral health status.

Results

A total of 271 burn patients (69% female and 31% male) had participated in the study. All of the participants had caries with mean DMFT = 10.96 (95%CI: 10.67, 11.25). There were 59.0% (95%CI: 53.15, 64.93%) and 66.1% (95%CI: 60.38, 71.73%) of the participants who had periodontitis and poor oral hygiene respectively. About 79 and 80% of the participants rated their dental and periodontal status as poor. About 78% reported brushing once daily and 89% did not practice regular dental visit. The DMFT, CPI and OHI-S were associated with the burn characteristics and oral health behaviours (p < 0.05). Dental anxiety, cost and social issues were the most cited reasons for not utilising oral health services. Greater burn severity, the longer time elapsed since the burn incident, and dental anxiety were associated with poorer oral health status and; brushing twice or more and regular dental visit, with better status (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Patients with oro-facial burn injury had a generally poor oral health and, the risks are greater in those with a more severe and wider area of injury, the longer time elapsed since the burn incident and dental anxiety; but a good oral hygiene practice and regular dental visits were protective against the risk.