Predicting mortality for critically ill burns patients, using the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index and Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3

Abstract

Introduction: Reviewing the profile of patients admitted at the Burns Intensive Care Unit at São Paulo Hospital – UNIFESP, as well as the available literature, it becomes evident the need for tools able to predict those patients’ outcomes. Distinct score models are used in different health centers, not only as prognostic models, but also as research and quality control tools. Amongst these prognostic scores, there are two strands, the burns specific scores – which consider the injury's characteristics – and the general critical patient's scores. Objective: This study aims to analyze the differences and tendencies in mortality prediction of two broadly used scores when applied to São Paulo Hospital's Burns Intensive Care Unit patients, ABSI – burns specific score – and SAPS 3 – general score for critical patients. Methods: This is an individual, observational, retrospective and comparative study, developed with medical records review. Both scores were applied to every patient admitted at São Paulo Hospital's Burns Intensive Care Unit from 2011 to 2016. Statistical analyses used the non-parametric test of Kolmogorov-Smirnov, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 122 patients were included, the average age was 34,4 years old. 70,5% of patients were male and 49% had a total body surface area burned of 20%. 27% of the patients died. Statistical analyses do not show significant differences between ABSI and SAPS3 mortality predictions for burns patients at this health center. Conclusion: The study evidences that SAPS 3 score, frequently used at general Intensive Care Units, has a similar performance to ABSI score, which is specific for burns populations. ABSI score is easier to implement, as it is simpler and able to show instant results.