Epidemiology of Burns in a Tertiary Care Centre in South India - A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background In a country like India, where the number of patients presenting with burns is quite significant, not much epidemiological data are available for the same. These data are very important to better understand the magnitude of the problem, to implement and improve preventive measures, and to further improve the approach towards burns patients.
Methods This is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Surgery, S N Medical College and H S K Hospital and Research Centre, Bagalkot; wherein all the cases of burns admitted in the hospital between January 2013 to November 2015 were analyzed. The data related to age, sex, cause of burns, mode of burns, total body surface area of burns,involvement of the respiratory tract, co-morbid conditions, number of days of hospital stay, outcome, time between admission and death, and cause of death were analyzed.

Results A total of 174 cases admitted to the burns ward were evaluated where 34.5% males and 65.5% females with a male: female ratio of 1:1.9. 63.22% of all patients were from the age group of 21–40 years. A total mortality of 42.53% was seen, with the highest mortality of 27.59% in the age group 21–40 years. 40.80% of the patients had upper respiratory tract involvement, of which 84.51% eventually succumbed to death. Of the total deaths, 41.89% were due to hypovolemic shock, mainly during the first four days; and 58.11% due to septicemic shock, mainly after 5 days of admission.