Characteristics and influence of gender on outcomes of elderly burn patients.

Ngo Minh Duc1, Nguyen Nhu Lam1,
1 Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital

Main Article Content

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics and relationships of gender with outcomes of elderly burn patients.
Patients and method: A retrospective study was conducted on 629 elderly burn patients (65 ≥ years old) admitted to the National Burn Hospital over a period from 2015 to 2019. Demographic data, burn features and outcomes of male and female groups were compared.
Results: Men accounted for 51.03% and women accounted for 48.97% of the total patients. Years old of female patients were older than men (75 years old vs 72 years; p < 0.05) with the main causal agent was wet heat (56.49%) while in men, it was due to dry heat (57.94%; p < 0.01).
The incidence of deep burn injury was remarkably higher in male patients (66.67% vs. 54.87%; p < 0.05). Burn extent, full-thickness burn area, the incidence of inhalation injury and the number of surgical interventions was insignificant differences across genders (p > 0.05). The average treatment cost for 1% of deep burn area was significantly higher in male patients (p < 0.05). The mortality rate of male patients was higher (13.08% compared with 9.74%), the time point of death after the burn was earlier (9.5 vs 11.5 days) but the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Amongst elderly burn patients, the common causal agent was humid heat for females and dry heat for men. Male patients appeared to suffer a higher rate and treatment cost for deep burn injury. However, outcomes were not significantly different across genders.

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References

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