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Citation
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Ederer IA, Hacker S, Sternat N, Waldmann A, Salameh O, Radtke C, Pauzenberger R. Burns 2019; 45(1): 205-212. |
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Affiliation
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Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. |
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: According to the ABSI - Abbreviated Burn Severity Index - women exhibit an increased risk of succumbing to burn injuries. In contrast, following non-thermal trauma, increased mortality has been shown for the male gender. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate gender-specific differences among burn patients with special regard to burn mortality.
METHODS: We retrospectively studied 839 patients who were admitted to the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU) and underwent surgical treatment between June 1994 and December 2014. In-hospital mortality was the main clinical endpoint. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models for the association between sex and mortality.
RESULTS: In total, we included 530 male and 309 female burn patients. All patients had at least partial-thickness burns and underwent one or more operative procedures. Women were significantly older than men (mean 60.0 years vs 46.2 years; p<0.001). Despite having smaller injuries (24.6% vs 30.3% total body surface area (TBSA); p<0.001), burn mortality among women significantly differed from that of men (27.8% vs 21.7%; OR 1.39, p=0.045, 95% CI 1.01-1.92). This association, however, did not persist after adjusting for age, %TBSA, inhalation injury and full-thickness burns (OR 1.07, p=0.77, 95% CI 0.68-1.70).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite increasing research directed at women's health, the assoziation between gender and burn mortality has yielded conflicting results. This study does not support a gender-specific difference in burn mortality in our study population.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
Language: en |