81 Inhalation Injury Is Associated with Long-term Physical, Satisfaction with Life, and Employment Outcomes: A Longitudinal National Database Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The effects of inhalation injury on mortality are well established. However, little is known about the long-term impacts of inhalation injuries on survivors. This study aims to describe the inhalation injury population and examine differences in long-term physical, mental, employment, and satisfaction with life outcomes between adult burn survivors with and without inhalation injury. Methods Data from the Burn Model System National Database (1993–2019) were analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of those with and without inhalation injury were assessed. The Physical Health Composite Scale (PCS) and Mental Health Composite Scale (MCS) of the Short Form-12 Health Survey, Employment Status, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were analyzed at 24 months post-injury. Regression analyses assessed whether inhalation injury was associated with each outcome, which were adjusted for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and burn size. Results The analysis included 4,045 individuals (452 with inhalation injury, 3,593 without inhalation injury). Those with inhalation injury had larger burn size, longer hospital lengths of stay, and more operations; they were less likely to be employed at injury and injured at work, and took longer to gain employment after injury (Table 1). Two years after injury, individuals with inhalation injury were half as likely to be working (OR = 0.49, p< 0.001), and had worse PCS (β=-2.51, p=0.021) and SWL scores (β=-2.35, p=0.006) compared to those without inhalation injury. MCS scores did not differ between groups. Conclusions Burn survivors with inhalation injuries experience lower rates of employment, worse physical functioning, and worse satisfaction with life outcomes at 24 months post-injury compared to those without inhalation injuries. Applicability of Research to Practice Burn survivors with an inhalation injury may require supplementary resources and treatment as well as monitoring of sequelae long-term.