RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Pooling and comparing data from the existing global network of burn registers represents a powerful, yet untapped, opportunity to improve burn prevention and care. There have been no studies investigating whether registers are sufficiently similar to allow data comparisons. It is also not known what differences exist that could bias analyses. Understanding this information is essential prior to any future data sharing. The aim of this project was to compare the variables collected in countrywide and intercountry burn registers to understand their similarities and differences. METHODS: Register custodians were invited to participate and share their data dictionaries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were compared to understand each register population. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the number of unique variables. Variables were classified into themes. Definition, method, timing of measurement, and response options were compared for a sample of register concepts. RESULTS: 13 burn registries participated in the study. Inclusion criteria varied between registers. Median number of variables per register was 94 (range 28 - 890), of which 24% (range 4.8 - 100%) were required to be collected. Six themes (patient information, admission details, injury, inpatient, outpatient, other) and 41 subthemes were identified. Register concepts of age and timing of injury show similarities in data collection. Intent, mechanism, inhalational injury, infection, and patient death show greater variation in measurement. CONCLUSIONS: We found some commonalities between registers and some differences. Commonalities would assist in any future efforts to pool and compare data between registers. Differences between registers could introduce selection and measurement bias, which needs to be addressed in any strategy aiming to facilitate burn register data sharing. We recommend the development of common data elements used in an international minimum data set for burn injuries, including standard definitions and methods of measurement, as the next step in achieving burn register data sharing.
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Quemaduras , Sistema de Registros , Quemaduras/epidemiología , Humanos , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Lesión por Inhalación de Humo/epidemiología , Salud Global/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Edad , Masculino , AdultoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In South Africa, fire-related deaths are common, particularly within dense informal housing settlements. Published data on deaths from fire incidents in Cape Town is sparse. Additionally, little emphasis has been placed on the role of toxicological investigations in these deaths, despite the known risk of alcohol and drug impairment to burn injury. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive analysis of post-mortem case reports from Salt River Mortuary was conducted to investigate all deaths in which fires were involved in the west metropole of Cape Town, between 2006 to 2018. Demographic, circumstantial, and toxicological data were analyzed using R software. RESULTS: In total 1370 fire deaths occurred over 13 years, with a mean of 106 (SD ± 18) cases per annum (≈3% of the annual caseload and a mortality rate of 5.5 per 100,000). Males (70.4%), adults (mean=30.7 years), and toddlers (1-4 years old) were notably at risk. Deaths typically occurred in the early morning (00h00 - 06h00) (45.7%), during winter (32.1%), and in lower socioeconomic areas with highly dense informal settlements (65.6%), with 29% of deaths occurring in multi-fatality incidents. Ethanol was detected (≥0.01 g/100 mL) in 55.1% of cases submitted for analysis (71.5%), with a mean of 0.18 g/100 mL, and with 93.8% of positive cases > 0.05 g/100 mL. Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) analysis was requested in 76.4% of cases, with 57% of cases having a %COHb of ≥ 20%. Toxicology results (for drugs other than ethanol) from the national laboratory were outstanding in 34.4% of the cases at the conclusion of the study. BAC and %COHb were significantly higher in deaths from burns and smoke inhalation (usually accidents) than deaths from combined trauma and burns (typically homicides). Fire deaths with high COHb levels were more likely to display cherry-red discoloration (OR=3.1) and soot in the airways (OR=2.7) at autopsy. CONCLUSION: This article provides an updated description of fire deaths in the west metropole of Cape Town. The importance of BAC and COHb testing in these cases was noted, and the authors call for an investigation of the role of drug impairment (specifically frequently misused drugs methamphetamine and methaqualone) as a risk factor in these deaths. Areas of high-density informal settlements, where open flames are used to heat, light, and cook, were noted as high risk.
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Quemaduras , Incendios , Humanos , Sudáfrica/epidemiología , Estudios Retrospectivos , Masculino , Adulto , Femenino , Quemaduras/mortalidad , Quemaduras/epidemiología , Incendios/estadística & datos numéricos , Lactante , Preescolar , Niño , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adolescente , Adulto Joven , Carboxihemoglobina/análisis , Anciano , Nivel de Alcohol en Sangre , Metanfetamina/envenenamiento , Distribución por Edad , Etanol , Distribución por Sexo , Lesión por Inhalación de Humo/epidemiología , Lesión por Inhalación de Humo/mortalidad , Intoxicación por Monóxido de Carbono/mortalidad , Intoxicación por Monóxido de Carbono/epidemiología , Estaciones del Año , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/mortalidad , Depresores del Sistema Nervioso CentralRESUMEN
RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as características e a evolução de crianças internadas por queimaduras em unidade de terapia intensiva de trauma pediátrico para atendimento de queimados. Métodos: Estudo observacional, por meio da análise retrospectiva de crianças (< 16 anos) admitidas na unidade de terapia intensiva de trauma pediátrico vítimas de queimaduras, entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2015. Foram analisadas variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas: agente causal, superfície corporal queimada, presença de lesão inalatória, tempo de internação hospitalar e mortalidade. Resultados: Foram avaliados 140 pacientes, sendo 61,8% do sexo masculino, com mediana da idade de 24 meses e mortalidade geral de 5%. A principal causa de queimadura foi escaldamento (51,4%), seguida de acidente com fogo (38,6%) e choque elétrico (6,4%). Ventilação mecânica foi utilizada em 20,7% dos casos. Lesão inalatória associada apresentou risco relativo de 6,1 (3,5 - 10,7) para necessidade de suporte ventilatório e risco relativo para mortalidade de 14,1 (2,9 - 68,3) quando comparados aos pacientes sem esta lesão associada. Houve significativa associação entre a superfície queimada e a mortalidade (p < 0,002), atingindo 80% nos pacientes com mais de 50% de área queimada. Os pacientes que evoluíram ao óbito apresentaram Tobiasen's Abbreviated Burn Severity Index significativamente maior que os sobreviventes (9,6 ± 2,2 versus 4,4 ± 1,1; p < 0,001). Tobiasen's Abbreviated Burn Severity Index ≥ 7 representou risco relativo para morte de 68,4 (IC95% 9,1 - 513,5). Conclusão: As queimaduras por escaldamento são bastante frequentes e estão associadas à alta morbidade. A mortalidade está associada à superfície corporal queimada e à presença de lesão inalatória. Ênfase especial deve ser dada aos acidentes por fogo, reforçando o diagnóstico e o tratamento adequados da lesão inalatória.
ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of children hospitalized for burns in a pediatric trauma intensive care unit for burn patients. Methods: An observational study was conducted through the retrospective analysis of children (< 16 years) admitted to the pediatric trauma intensive care unit for burn victims between January 2013 and December 2015. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed including the causal agent, burned body surface, presence of inhalation injury, length of hospital stay and mortality. Results: The study analyzed a sum of 140 patients; 61.8% were male, with a median age of 24 months and an overall mortality of 5%. The main cause of burns was scalding (51.4%), followed by accidents involving fire (38.6%) and electric shock (6.4%). Mechanical ventilation was used in 20.7% of the cases. Associated inhalation injury presented a relative risk of 6.1 (3.5 - 10.7) of needing ventilatory support and a relative risk of mortality of 14.1 (2.9 - 68.3) compared to patients without this associated injury. A significant connection was found between burned body surface and mortality (p < 0.002), reaching 80% in patients with a burned area greater than 50%. Patients who died had a significantly higher Tobiasen Abbreviated Burn Severity Index than survivors (9.6 ± 2.2 versus 4.4 ± 1.1; p < 0.001). A Tobiasen Abbreviated Burn Severity Index ≥ 7 represented a relative risk of death of 68.4 (95%CI 9.1 - 513.5). Conclusion: Scalding burns are quite frequent and are associated with high morbidity. Mortality is associated with the amount of burned body surface and the presence of inhalation injury. Special emphasis should be given to accidents involving fire, reinforcing proper diagnosis and treatment of inhalation injury.
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Lactante , Preescolar , Niño , Adolescente , Respiración Artificial/estadística & datos numéricos , Quemaduras/terapia , Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Pediátrico , Hospitalización , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Superficie Corporal , Quemaduras/mortalidad , Quemaduras/patología , Lesión por Inhalación de Humo/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Tiempo de InternaciónRESUMEN
OBJETIVO: Identificar la relación que guardan las consultas de urgencias por enfermedades respiratorias agudas, crisis agudas de asma bronquial e infecciones respiratorias agudas, con los cambios diarios en los niveles de contaminación atmosférica, en menores de 14 años de edad que fueron atendidos en dos centros hospitalarios de la ciudad de La Habana. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio ecológico de series de tiempo durante el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de octubre de 1996 y el 11 marzo de 1998. Se estudió la asociación entre la presencia de crisis agudas de asma bronquial, infecciones respiratorias agudas y enfermedades respiratorias agudas por un lado, y la exposición a niveles de partículas menores de 10 µg/m3 (PM10), humo y dióxido de azufre (SO2), por otro; asimismo, se construyeron modelos con la técnica de regresión binomial negativa, para estudiar periodos de latencia de 1 a 5 días y el efecto acumulado de siete días, previos a las consultas de urgencia. RESULTADOS: Los niveles de contaminación atmosférica, por lo general, resultaron bajos, ya que el promedio de 24 horas para PM10, humo y SO2 fue de 59.2 µg/m3 (DE=29.2), 27.7 µg/m3 (DE=21.2) y 21.1 µg/m3 (DE=20.1), respectivamente. Un incremento de 20 µg/m3 en el promedio diario de humo se relacionó con un incremento de 2.2% (IC 95% 0.9-3.6) en el número de consultas de urgencias por crisis agudas de asma bronquial. Un incremento de 20 µg/m3 en el promedio diario de humo y de SO2 se relacionó con un incremento en las infecciones respiratorias agudas de 2.4% (95% CI 1.2-3.6) y 5% (95% CI 1.3-5.3), respectivamente, con un retraso de cinco días. Además, se presentó un efecto acumulado en todos los contaminantes estudiados. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren que los niveles de contaminantes atmosféricos en la ciudad de La Habana afectan la salud respiratoria de los niños, por lo que se requiere de la aplicación de medidas de control, en particular para disminuir las emisiones vehiculares.