Epidemiology of Burn Injuries at a Newly Established Burn Care Center in Rasht

Background: Advances in the care of burn injuries have resulted from the efforts of regional patient-based specialist teams at burn care centers. Objectives: We conducted this study to assess the four-year epidemiology of burn injuries in Rasht, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, medical records of ۲۲۷۴ burn patients, treated at Velayat hospital from January ۲۰۰۷ to December ۲۰۱۰ in Rasht, Iran, were assessed. Age, sex, level of education, occupation, severity and degree of burn, burn surface area, burn cause and outcome of patients were evaluated. Results: In our study the overall mortality rate was ۸.۷%; ۶۵.۷% of patients were men and ۳۴.۳% were women. Mean age of patients was ۳۱.۴۷ ± ۲۲.۶۷ years. Mean Total Burn Surface Area (TBSA) was ۱۵.۲۴ ± ۱۸.۴. Lowest TBSA was ۰.۵% and highest TBSA was ۱۰۰%. Significant associations were observed between age (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱), place of residence (P = ۰.۰۰۴), level of education (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱), unemployment (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱), marital status (P = ۰.۰۲۱), causes of burn (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱), TBSA (P = ۰.۰۰۰۱) and mortality rate. In our study, no significant difference was observed between age and sex (P = ۰.۰۷۱). Conclusions: Due to high prevalence of burn injuries in Iran, increasing the level of awareness of the society as well as adhering to safety procedures both at home and workplace is recommended via implementing effective national safety policies.

Keywords:

Epidemiology , Burns , Iran