Are Burns a Chronic Condition? Examining Patient Reported Outcomes up to 20 Years after Burn Injury - A Burn Model System National Database Investigation

database[Title] 2022-01-29

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 Jan 25. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003547. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People living with burn injury often face long-term physical and psychological sequelae associated with their injuries. Few studies have examined the impacts of burn injuries on long-term health and function, life satisfaction, and community integration beyond five years post-injury. The purpose of this study was to examine these outcomes up to 20 years after burn injury.

METHODS: Data from the Burn Model System National Longitudinal Database (1993-2020) was analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures were collected at discharge (pre-injury status recall) and 5, 10, 15, and 20 years after injury. Outcomes examined were the SF-12/VR-12 Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Summaries (MCS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ). Trajectories were developed using linear mixed models with repeated measures of outcome scores over time, controlling for demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS: The study population included 421 adult burn survivors with a mean age of 42.4 years. Lower PCS scores (worse health) were associated with longer length of hospital stay, older age at injury and greater time since injury. Similarly, lower MCS scores were associated with longer length of hospital stay, female sex, and greater time since injury. SWLS scores decrease negatively over time. Lower CIQ scores were associated with burn size and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Burn survivors' physical and mental health and satisfaction with life worsened over time up to 20 years after injury. Results strongly suggest that future studies should focus on long term follow-up where clinical interventions may be necessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, Prognostic.

PMID:35081598 | DOI:10.1097/TA.0000000000003547