593 Mortality of Burn patients over two decades: Improving outcomes in the elderly

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S148-S148
Author(s):  
Melissa J Grigsby ◽  
Kathleen S Romanowski ◽  
Soman Sen ◽  
Tina L Palmieri ◽  
Matthew D Ponzini ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Shifting paradigms in the care of burn patients over the past two decades have led to the improved survival of adult and pediatric patients, but the same trend has not been manifested in the elderly population. We aimed to review our patient population, particularly the elderly, for the last twenty years and examine the relationship of age to the TBSA (total burn surface area) LD50 (lethal dose, 50%). Methods This IRB approved study retrospectively analyzed acute burn patients admitted at two academic regional burn centers from January 1, 1999 to August 1, 2019. Data collected included age, gender, TBSA, mortality, mechanism of burn, inhalation injury, and presence of full-thickness burn. The relationship between mortality and TBSA and age was assessed using logistic regression. The TBSA LD50 was calculated conditional on age and confidence intervals were constructed based on 1000 bootstrap samples. Results A total of 9,721 patients were admitted for treatment of acute burn injury between the two institutions. In our population, flame was the most common cause of burn injury (51%), full-thickness burns were present 47% of the time, and mean TBSA was 13%. The average patient age was 28, although there were 789 patients over the age of 65. The TBSA LD50 relationship to age best fit a cubic regression model with a peak of 81% TBSA LD50 at 17 years of age, rapid decrease early in the 5th decade and a general leveling out at the nadir of 27% TBSA (Figure). The LD50 did not reach 30% until 78 years of age. Conclusions Over the past two decades, elderly patients treated at our hospitals appear to have improved survival in comparison to the outcomes reported nationally. Due the ongoing rapid aging of the population, it is important that we continue to focus on both improving survival and delivering the best care to this vulnerable part of the population. Moreover, this continuous model could be used to track improvements in care within our institution and serve as a template for a national model.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S13-S14
Author(s):  
Sarah Zavala ◽  
Kate Pape ◽  
Todd A Walroth ◽  
Melissa A Reger ◽  
Katelyn Garner ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction In burn patients, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased incidence of sepsis. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of vitamin D deficiency in adult burn patients on hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods This was a multi-center retrospective study of adult patients at 7 burn centers admitted between January 1, 2016 and July 25, 2019 who had a 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration drawn within the first 7 days of injury. Patients were excluded if admitted for a non-burn injury, total body surface area (TBSA) burn less than 5%, pregnant, incarcerated, or made comfort care or expired within 48 hours of admission. The primary endpoint was to compare hospital LOS between burn patients with vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25OHD < 20 ng/mL) and sufficiency (25OHD ≥ 20 ng/mL). Secondary endpoints include in-hospital mortality, ventilator-free days of the first 28, renal replacement therapy (RRT), length of ICU stay, and days requiring vasopressors. Additional data collected included demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, injury characteristics, form of vitamin D received (ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol) and dosing during admission, timing of vitamin D initiation, and form of nutrition provided. Dichotomous variables were compared via Chi-square test. Continuous data were compared via student t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Univariable linear regression was utilized to identify variables associated with LOS (p < 0.05) to analyze further. Cox Proportional Hazard Model was utilized to analyze association with LOS, while censoring for death, and controlling for TBSA, age, presence of inhalation injury, and potential for a center effect. Results Of 1,147 patients screened, 412 were included. Fifty-seven percent were vitamin D deficient. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had longer LOS (18.0 vs 12.0 days, p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring RRT (7.3 vs 1.7%, p = 0.009), more days requiring vasopressors (mean 1.24 vs 0.58 days, p = 0.008), and fewer ventilator free days of the first 28 days (mean 22.9 vs 25.1, p < 0.001). Univariable analysis identified burn center, AKI, TBSA, inhalation injury, admission concentration, days until concentration drawn, days until initiating supplementation, and dose as significantly associated with LOS. After controlling for center, TBSA, age, and inhalation injury, the best fit model included only deficiency and days until vitamin D initiation. Conclusions Patients with thermal injuries and vitamin D deficiency on admission have increased length of stay and worsened clinical outcomes as compared to patients with sufficient vitamin D concentrations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S57-S58
Author(s):  
John W Keyloun ◽  
Saira Nisar ◽  
Kathleen Brummel-Ziedins ◽  
Maria Bravo ◽  
Matthew Gissell ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Endotheliopathy in burn patients is largely uncharacterized. Syndecan-1 (SDC-1), thrombomodulin (TM), and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) are components of the vascular endothelial glycocalyx. Proteolytic cleavage of these moieties may yield biomarkers for endothelial damage. The aim of this study is to evaluate endotheliopathy after burn injury by monitoring plasma levels of these biomarkers over time to investigate potential relationship to mortality. Methods Burn injured patients presenting to a regional burn center from 2012 to 2017 were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours from admission. Plasma SDC-1, TM, and TFPI levels were quantified by ELISA. Demographic data and injury characteristics were obtained from the medical chart. Patients with concomitant inhalation injury, trauma, or < 10% total body surface area (TBSA) burns were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using mixed-effect models with Sidak’s correction for multiple comparisons. Significance was set at p =0.05. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results A cohort of 22 patients was identified with an average age of 45±14 years, TBSA of 30±15%, with 6 patients who died from their injuries. The deceased group was older (59±13 vs. 40±10 years, p = 0.01), and there was no significant difference in burn size. Mean SDC-1 levels were higher in the deceased group at all time points (p=0.0004) and this difference was significant at hour 12 (106±11 vs. 41±31 ng/mL, p = 0.0002), hour 24 (160±39 vs. 35±20 ng/mL, p = 0.04) and hour 72 (100±3 vs. 35±38 ng/mL, p = 0.01). Mean soluble TM levels were higher in the deceased group after hour 12 (p = 0.04) and there was a trend towards higher TFPI levels after hour 12 in the deceased group. Conclusions Biomarkers are elevated in patients following burn injury who die, when inhalation injury and trauma are excluded. Given equivalent TBSA, older patients appear more sensitive to thermally induced glycocalyx degradation. SDC-1 shows the greatest promise as a prognostic indicator as levels tend to be higher among deceased patients on admission and are significantly higher as early as hour 12. Applicability of Research to Practice Reliable assessment of the patient’s endothelial damage may hold predictive value for clinicians and could assist in clinical decision making. Further research must investigate endotheliopathy in burn patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S68-S68
Author(s):  
Isabel Bernal ◽  
Rosemary Paine ◽  
Damien W Carter ◽  
Carolyne Falank

Abstract Introduction As the population ages; burn centers, especially those with a large rural catchment, will be expected to care for older adults with complex medical co-morbidities. Recent work has shown that %TBSA at which 50% of patients would be expected to die (LD50) for elderly patients is up to 20% lower than non-elderly patients. However, the factors contributing to mortality are unclear. We undertook this study to characterize our experience with elderly burn patients in our rural state and to understand how mortality is affected by comorbid disease. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all burn patients ≥50 years old admitted to our burn center over a 5 year period between January 2014 and December 2018. We collected demographic and injury data including %TBSA, mechanism, inhalation injury status, discharge disposition, length of stay as well as complications including pneumonia, kidney injury, wound infection and graft loss. We calculated the modified Baux score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and overall mortality for each patient. The %TBSA and CCI were correlated with complications and mortality using the Pearson correlation coefficient analysis. Results There were 243 patients (35%) who met inclusion criteria out of total of 688 burn admissions during that period. The median age was 60 years (mean 62.2, range: 50–95) and 72.4% were male. The median TBSA was 4% (mean: 8.2%, range: 0.5% - 55%). We found weak correlations between CCI and both pneumonia (R=0.177, p=0.005) and mortality (R=0.1297, p=0.0434). There was also a weak correlation between %TBSA and pneumonia (R=0.3302, p < 0.001), kidney injury (R=0.205, p=0.001), wound infection (R=0.1295, p=0.045) and graft loss (R=0.2616, p< 0.001). Interestingly, in the subgroup with > 15% TBSA burns (n=35), there was no significant correlation with increased complications. For the entire cohort, the predicted mortality based on the mean modified Baux score was 16%. The actual observed mortality was 4.1%. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, in our center, CCI is not predictive of burn related complications or mortality and %TBSA is not predictive of complications or death. The observed to expected mortality ratio was remarkably low. Applicability of Research to Practice As we treat older burn patients, it is important to identify the individual patient factors and hospital specific burn care factors that may improve outcomes in the elderly population.


Author(s):  
Byeon

Background and objectives: Only a few studies analyzed the physical activity level of elderly people living alone in local communities and evaluated the relationship between it and mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between regular physical activity and depression in the elderly living alone and to provide basic data for the prevention of depression in the elderly. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 256 elderly people living alone aged 65 years or older who completed the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depression was defined as a score of 10 or higher using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). This study investigated walking per week, days of muscular strength exercise performance in the past 1 week, days of flexibility exercise in the past 1 week, mean hours in a sitting position per day, the numbers of days and hours conducting a high intensity physical activity in the past 1 week, and numbers of days and hours conducting a medium intensity physical activity in the past 1 week to define physical activity. Our study presented prevalence odds ratios (pOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) by using complex sample logistic regression analysis in order to identify the relationship between physical activity and depression. Results: The results of complex sample logistic regression analysis showed that flexibility exercise was significantly related to depression (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the mean hours in a sitting position per day, aerobic physical activity, walking, and muscular strength exercise were not significantly related to geriatric depression. Conclusions: The results of our study implied that persistent flexibility exercise might be more effective to maintain a healthy mental status than muscular strength exercise. A longitudinal study is required to prove the causal relationship between physical activity and depression in the old age.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Qian ◽  
Song Wang ◽  
Yangping Wang ◽  
Xiaorong Zhang ◽  
Mian Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Burns are one of the major traumas that may affect older individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of geriatric burns at a major center in south-west China. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University between 2010 and 2016, and the data collected from medical records included admission date, age, gender, premorbid disease, burn etiology, injured anatomical location, burn area and depth, inhalation injury, number of surgeries, length of stay (LOS), clinical outcome, and medical cost. Results Of the 693 older burn patients included, 60.75% were male and 56.85% were aged 60–69 years. Burns peaked in December–March and June. Flame was the most common cause of burns, making up 51.95% of all cases, and also dominated in the burn patients aged 60–69 years. Limbs were the most common anatomical sites of burns (69.41%), and the median total body surface area (TBSA) was 5% (interquartile range [IQR]: 2%–15%). The percentage of the patients who underwent surgeries and number of surgeries significantly increased in the cases of contact burns, younger age and full-thickness burns. Six deaths resulted in a mortality of 0.9%. The median LOS was 16 days (IQR: 8–29 days), and the main risk factors were more surgeries, better outcomes, and full-thickness burns. The median cost was 20,228 CNY (IQR: 10,457– 46,581.5 CNY), and major risk factors included longer LOS, larger TBSA, and more surgeries. Furthermore, compared to the earlier data from our center, the proportion of older adults among all burns (7.50% vs. 4.15%), proportion of flame burns (51.95% vs. 33.90%), and mean age (69.05 years vs. 65.10 years) were significantly higher, while the proportion of premorbidities (16.9% vs. 83.9%), mortality (0.9% vs. 7.5%) and median TBSA (5% vs. 21%) were significantly lower. Conclusions This study suggested that closer attention should be paid to prevent burn injuries in older people aged 60–69 years, especially males, regarding incidents in the summer and winter, and flame burns. Moreover, tailored intervention strategies based on related risk factors should be under special consideration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S186-S187
Author(s):  
Kevin N Foster ◽  
Dylon Buchanan ◽  
Timothy Durr ◽  
Karen J Richey

Abstract Introduction Burn patients often require ventilator management because of large % TBSA injury, the presence of inhalation injury, and/or other factors. Airway pressure relief ventilation (APRV) offers several advantages over conventional ventilation modes including improved alveolar recruitment, better oxygenation and hemodynamics, preservation of spontaneous breathing, and possibly less ventilator-induced lung injury. This study reviews the use of APRV as the primary ventilator mode in burn patients with and without inhalation injury. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients admitted to the burn center and requiring APRV ventilation over a ten year period was performed. Data collected included demographic data, burn injury data, ventilator settings, arterial blood gas data, and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Results There were 411 patients identified over the ten year period. Mean age was 46 years, and mean % TBSA burned was 33. Seventy-three percent were male. One-half (51%) of patients had an inhalation injury. Mean hospital length of stay was 32 days with 22 mean ventilator days. Average number of surgeries was 4.4 per patient. Mean high pressure (P high) was 23 mm Hg. Mean FiO2 was 88% on post-injury day (PID) 1, 65% on day PID 2, and 45% thereafter. Mean P/F ratio was 333. Mean pH was 7.40, mean pCO2 was 40 mmHg, and mean HCO3 was 25 mm Hg. Forty-six percent of patients met criteria for diagnosis of VAP. Conclusions These data demonstrate that burn patients requiring mechanical ventilation can be safely and effectively managed with APRV. Oxygenation, carbon dioxide removal, normal acid-base status, and excellent P/F ratios were maintained with relatively low ventilator settings such as peak airway pressure and FiO2. Patients were able to breathe spontaneously when able and were easily liberated form the ventilator at the appropriate time. Applicability of Research to Practice This study defines an unconventional and potentially improved ventilator mode use in burn patients.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A. Bittner ◽  
Connie W. Chaudhary

Anesthetic management of burn-injured patients can be particularly challenging. Burn-injured patients exhibit pathophysiologic changes that can affect nearly all the organs in the body. Challenges the anesthesiologist may encounter when caring for burn patients include difficult airway management, impaired lung function, vascular access issues, hypothermia, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations, and pain management. Other important considerations that could affect the condition of burn patients include blood loss, hypermetabolism, pain control, and temperature management.  Anticipating appropriate precautions can change the clinical outcome of these patients.  Optimal care requires a full understanding of the unique preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative issues of the burn-injured patient. This review contains 2 figures, 3 tables, and 77 references. Key Words: anesthetic management of acute burns, burn injury, electrical injury, fluid resuscitation, inhalation injury, Parkland formula, pain management


Author(s):  
Rachel M Nygaard ◽  
Frederick W Endorf

Abstract It is well-established that survival in burn injury is primarily dependent on three factors: age, percent total-body surface area burned (%TBSA), and inhalation injury. However, it is clear that in other (nonburn) conditions, nonmedical factors may influence mortality. Even in severe burns, patients undergoing resuscitation may survive for a period of time before succumbing to infection or other complications. In some cases, though, families in conjunction with caregivers may choose to withdraw care and not resuscitate patients with large burns. We wanted to investigate whether any nonmedical socioeconomic factors influenced the rate of early deaths in burn patients. The National Burn Repository (NBR) was used to identify patients that died in the first 72 hours after injury and those that survived more than 72 hours. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine factors including age, gender, race, comorbidities, burn size, inhalation injury, and insurance type, and determine their influence on deaths within 72 hours. A total of 133,889 burn patients were identified, 1362 of which died in the first 72 hours. As expected, the Baux score (age plus burn size), and inhalation injury predicted early deaths. Interestingly, on multivariate analysis, patients with Medicare (p = .002), self-pay patients (p < .001), and those covered by automobile policies (p = .045) were significantly more likely to die early than those with commercial insurance. Medicaid patients were more likely to die early, but not significantly (p = .188). Worker’s compensation patients were more likely to survive the first 72 hours compared with patients with commercial insurance (p < .001). Men were more likely to survive the early period than women (p = .043). On analysis by race, only Hispanic patients significantly differed from white patients, and Hispanics were more likely to survive the first 72 hours (p = .028). Traditional medical factors are major factors in early burn deaths. However, these results show that nonmedical socioeconomic factors including race, gender, and especially insurance status influence early burn deaths as well.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S53-S53
Author(s):  
Mary A Hunter ◽  
Kimutai Sylvester ◽  
Patrick M Vivier ◽  
David T Harrington ◽  
Russell White ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Burn injuries contribute a considerable burden of disease in variable-resource settings, often resulting in mortality. Despite contributing a substantial burden, outcomes from burn injuries in rural Africa are rarely described. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with mortality from burn injury in rural Africa. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients with burn injury from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017 at a 300-bed faith-based, teaching hospital in eastern Africa. Bivariate analysis was used to compare patients who survived the hospital stay with those who did not. Using total body surface area (TBSA), the LD50 (Lethal Dose 50, burn size with a lethality of 50% of patients), and the modified-Baux score were calculated. Due to small sample size, lasso inference techniques for logistic regression were utilized to avoid overfitting a model and to determine relevant risk factors for mortality, by evaluating burn severity, age, sex, location of residence, payer status, time from injury to arrival, distance from hospital, presence of full thickness burns, inhalational injury, and referral status. Results A total 171 burn injury patients were reviewed for this study; two were excluded due to missing data. Among 169 patients, 14.8% (n=25) experienced mortality prior to hospital discharge. Fifty patients suffered an adverse event (29.6%) including: 17 wound infections, 10 urinary tract infections, 10 with sepsis, and 25 with respiratory complications. The LD50 for TBSA was 42%. The LD50 for the modified-Baux score was 81. Non-survivors had higher average TBSA (31.0±5.0% vs 11.5±0.8%; p&lt; 0.01), more inhalational injury (44% vs 2.8%, p&lt; 0.01), full-thickness burns (56.5% vs 23.9%, p&lt; 0.01), and complications (88% vs 19.4%, p&lt; 0.01). Odds of mortality increased 1.06 times for every percent increase in TBSA burn (95%CI: 1.02, 1.11; p&lt; 0.01) and 13.9 times with inhalational injury (95%CI: 3.4, 56.4; p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions Mortality from burn injury represents a substantial portion of patients at a hospital in rural Africa. Factors of larger TBSA and inhalational injury represent the greatest risk.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document