The epidemiology of in-hospital burn patients in a tertiary hospital in Damascus, Syria. A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Syria has been facing a dreadful crisis for the past 11 years, which has had a significant toll on the healthcare system of the country, and its ability to adequately manage acute injuries. In this research, we study the epidemiology and outcomes of burn patients admitted to the burn center of Al-Mouwasat Hospital in Damascus, Syria.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort research was conducted from January 2017 to December 2021. All accessible paper-based medical records of burn injury patients admitted to the hospital were evaluated. ABSI score was used to classify injury degrees. Chi-square test and logistic regression model were used to study the association between demographic variables and outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 641 patients, 367 (57.3%) were males and 274 (42.7%) were females. Children represented more than half of our sample 377 (58.8%). The most common cause of burns was flame 393 (61.3%), followed by scalding 199 (31.0%). Most of the patients had a more than 10% TBSA of burns 511 (79.7%). 209 (32.6%) patients had a moderate ABSI score, followed by moderately severe in 149 (23.2%) patients. Children, patients who had high ABSI scores, and those who needed respiratory support were more likely to die than others 2.545 (1.079-6.004), 9.208 (4.061-20.879), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Death was the outcome of third of the hospitalized patients. Furthermore, Children made up more than half of the sample, and had the highest rates of leaving the hospital against medical advice. These results underline the importance of an updated nationally uniformed protocol for the management of burn patients.