Early Factors for Predicting Mortality Rate in Major Burn Patients-China Medical University Hospital Experiences

Background:Background: Many studies have provided different parameters to predict the mortality rate in burn patients. However, the timing point is less focused on the parameters in the first 24 hours after injury.Aim and Objectives:We intended to find out the meaning of early predictors for mortality rates in major burn patients.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study from January 2007 to June 2011 of major burn patients (＞ 20% TBSA) was performed. Variables were divided into biochemical and clinical factors. The biochemical factors including serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), magnesium (Mg)and albumin in the first 24 hours, and the clinical factors including TBSA (%), age, gender, inhalation injury, intubation, head/neck involvement, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking were recorded. According to their outcome, the patients were divided into two groups: the non-survivors and the survivors groups. Chi-square test was used to determine the differences between two groups in gender, inhalation injury, intubation, head/neck involvement, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking. The Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the differences between the two groups in other parameters. Any statistically significantly parameters were analyzed by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:Forty-five patients were divided into two groups: non-survivors (N=10) and survivors (N=35). Compared with the survivors group, the non-survivors group had significantly higher age, TBSA and lower serum albumin level. Major burn patients with intubation, inhalation injury and head/neck involvement were closely related to mortality. The ROC curve analysis showed TBSA (cut-off value: 46.5%, sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 94.12%) and serum albumin level (cut-off value: 1.85, sensitivity: 88.24%, specificity: 90%) were good predictors for mortality rate.Conclusion:TBSA and serum albumin level measures in the first 24 hours are good predictors for mortality rate in our burn center. Major burn patients with intubation, inhalation injury and head/neck involvement were closely related to mortality