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The Burns Evaluation and Mortality Study (BEAMS): predicting deaths in Australian and New Zealand burn patients admitted to intensive care with burns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

An understanding of prognosis following burns is important. It alleviates patient and familial stress, provides a framework for better resource use, and facilitates benchmarking of performance between specialist centers. METHODS: Data were collected from eight tertiary referral burns centers in Australia and New Zealand. Our aim was to identify factors independently associated with mortality to develop a mortality prediction model, which accurately quantifies the risk of death among adults with burns who require intensive care. RESULTS: Between January 2005 and December 2011, 1,715 patients were admitted to intensive care unit with acute thermal burns. The mean (SD) age was 41.1 (18.0) years, and 20.3 (n = 348) were female. Median percentage of total body surface area was 17 (6Y35 ) and percent full-thickness surface area was 4 (0Y20 ). Inhalational injury was documented as present in 36.2 . Accidental injury was the most common etiology of burn (70.4 ) and most frequently via a flame (68.3 ). Overall hospital mortality was 10.9 (n = 187). Independent risk factors for death were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95 confidence interval [CI], 1.06Y1.10; p G 0.001), percentage of full-thickness surface area (OR, 1.07; 95 CI 1.06Y1.08; p G 0.001), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score excluding age (OR, 1.11; 95 CI, 1.07Y1.15; p G 0.001) and female sex (OR, 3.35; 95 CI, 1.84Y6.11; p = 0.001). There was no association between inhalational injury or deliberate self-harm and death, as well as etiology or type of burn. CONCLUSION: A highly discriminatory mortality prediction model was developed using logistic regression. Risk of death following major burns can be predicted from a combination of physiologic and burns specific parameters. Female sex is a highly significant risk factor. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75: 298Y303. Copyright * 2013 by Lippincott Williams Wilkins) LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level I
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)298 - 303
Number of pages6
JournalThe Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume75
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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