Analysis of the epidemiological profile of pediatric burn patients hospitalized in referral centers in the north, center and south of Chile: A multicenter study

Introduction

The epidemiological profile of burn patients is a useful tool when planning prevention and prioritization of resources.

Objective

To describe and analyze differences in the epidemiological profile of hospitalized pediatric burn patients in reference centers throughout the country.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective analytical multicenter study conducted in four burn units (one in the IV region, two in the Metropolitan Region, and one in the X region). We reviewed clinical records between January 2019 to December 2021. Variables included: Age, Gender, Etiology, Burned Body Surface Area (BSA), and Severity Index (SI). Incomplete records were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test and ANOVA with p< 0.05.

Results

1,081 patients, 48 were from the North, 837 from the central region, and 196 from the South. We observed a decrease in the number of patients over the years. Gender: 56.24 % were male. Age: median of 1 year and a 75th percentile of 4 years. Etiology: 70.9 % were scalds. Scalds were more frequent in the North. In the South, there were more burns by hot objects, while in the central region, there were more electrical burns (p = 0.012). BSA: Median was 5 % (4–7.5 %), the distribution varied, p = 0.0007. SI: Median was 63 (61–68.5), with the North having a higher median.

Conclusions

The epidemiological profile of pediatric burn patients is scald in male infants with a BSA less than 10 %. The main difference between profiles is the etiology. Towards the South, the frequency of scald decreases while hot objects increase.

Level of evidence

level II - 3 of evidence