Outcome and changes over time in survival following severe burns from 1985 to 2004

Brusselaers, Nele; Hoste, Eric A.J.; Monstrey, Stan; Colpaert, Kirsten E.; De Waele, Jan J.; Vandewoude, Koenraad H.; Blot, Stijn I.

doi:10.1007/S00134-005-2819-6

Title

Outcome and changes over time in survival following severe burns from 1985 to 2004

Author

Brusselaers, Nele

Hoste, Eric A.J.

Monstrey, Stan

Colpaert, Kirsten E.

De Waele, Jan J.

Vandewoude, Koenraad H.

Blot, Stijn I.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate outcome in severely burned patients over a 20-year period and to evaluate survival over time. Historical cohort in a six-bed burn unit of a 1060-bed university hospital. Paitents: 1385 patients admitted to the burn unit over a 20-year period. Measurements and results: Outcome was evaluated in relation to the presence of three major risk factors for death: age 60 years or over, total burned surface area 40% or more, and the presence of inhalation injury. Overall mortality was 7.1%. When zero, one, two, or three risk factors were present, mortality was respectively 0.5%, 9.9%, 48.0%, and 90.5%. Over the study period the average proportional total burned surface area decreased as did mortality. The survival benefit was significant among patient groups with one or two risk factors present. Multivariate regression analysis adjusting for risk factors for death confirmed that survival improved over time (odds ratio 0.73 per 5-year period). Conclusions: Global mortality following burns is low, and nearly all patients who die had at least one risk factor present. In the presence of three risk factors the prognosis following burns is particularly compromised. Taking into account that our patients over the past 20 years have been progressively less extensively burned and hence have a lesser at risk for death, survival following severe burns has continued to improve.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Intensive care medicine / European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care. - Heidelberg, 1977, currens

Publication

Heidelberg : 2005

ISSN

0342-4642 [print]

1432-1238 [online]

DOI

10.1007/S00134-005-2819-6

Volume/pages

31 :12 (2005) , p. 1648-1653

ISI

000233467100010

Pubmed ID