Epidemiological and cost analysis of burned patients in Iran

Abstract

IntroductionConsidering the financial support provided by insurance and the government for burn patients in Iran, and recognizing the substantial economic impact associated with their treatment, there is a pressing need to delve into the epidemiology of these patients and analyze the related costs. This study aims to explore the epidemiological aspects and hospitalization costs of burn patients specifically within the burn ward of Imam Reza 68-bed Hospital in Mashhad, a regional center of referral in the eastern part of the country. MethodsData had extracted from the electronic data collection system, which is used on a daily basis in the hospital. We included patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of burns, code T20.0-T32.9 and T95 according to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10. Ultimately, 1151 patients were included in the study. We analyzed 1151 burn cases in terms of patients’ age at the time of the event, gender, type of burn (Chemical, scalds, flame, electrical and contact burns), anatomical location of the burn (head and neck, upper limb, lower limb, multiple regions and part unspecified), burn etiology, burn degree (I, II, III), total burn surface area (%TBSA), Inpatient ward, expenditure ($), burn mortality rate and length of hospitalization. The age group was divided into seven groups by the 10 years intervals. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS-16 and Excel software. Results1151 patients were included in the study. High-risk groups are pediatric up to nine (0–9) years. According to age, we found that most cases were children, respectively, 25% (291) cases. Men accounted for 743 cases (65%), women for 408 (35%). Major causes of severe burn injury were flame burns (49%) and scalds (43%). Unspecified was the most common burn location (40%), followed by the multiple regions (23%) and upper limb (11%). In cases of head and neck burns, the financial burden on the patient is elevated compared to other types of burns due to increased expenses for medications, disposable medical instruments, and hoteling. The main items for the burned patients are hoteling (38% of total costs), surgeon (24%), medicine (16%), and medical consumables (6%). The per capita expenditure was $9,365 ± $8,100 in pediatrics and $11,179 ± $10,180 in adults Conclusions: Most cases of death were related to burn in multiple areas of the body and then trunk burn (30% and 19%, respectively) and no death was observed in patients with hand and wrist burn. Burns can be incredibly severe and life-threatening, especially when they affect multiple areas of the body, such as the trunk and any burn injury is still a serious matter. It's important to prioritize fire safety and take precautions to prevent such accidents from happening.