Introduction

Burn injuries pose a high burden of fatalities on the health systems worldwide. About 90% of burn incidents occur in low to middle income countries, areas that are deficient in the essential means to decrease the rate and intensity of such injuries[1].

In United States, the mortality rate in relation to burn injuries was 5.3%, with higher age groups and greater-% total body surface area (TBSA) burned associated with greater fatality rates[2].

The reported mortality rate due to burns in different Asian countries is variable. Sharma et al. reported a relatively low annual mortality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 in Kuwait[3]. Mashreky et al. reported a mortality rate of about 2.2 per 100,000 in Bangladesh in the year 2011[4]. A study from Iran reported an annual fatality rate of 5.6 deaths per 100,000[5]. In 2004 only, the death rate due to burns in Iraq was reportedly 12.3 per 100,000, much higher than rate worldwide[6]. Such high rate was on account of the war in Iraq that began in 2004. A study from India reported an even higher mortality rate of about 15.1 per 100,000 in year 2003[7]. It further reported suicide commitment by females to be a major contributor to the death rate[7].

The objective of our current study is to determine the fatality rate of burn patients in Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan. Our study has been conducted on the base of available data at the only major burn centre of the city, where there are maximum reported burn cases than any other healthcare centre. We also aim to assess the effect of cause of burn cases, type of burns, and the total body surface area (TBSA) involved in related to mortality in burn patients.

Findings

This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Burns Ward of Civil Hospital, Karachi over a period over a period of two years from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2011.

A total of 1979 patients were admitted at the burns centre during the study duration including 57% males (n = 1129) and 43% females (n = 850).

A preformed questionnaire was filled for each patient that included demographics like age, gender, type of burn, cause of burn, date of birth, date of death (if patient expired) and TBSA (total burnt surface area).

The data was entered and analyzed on SPSS version 16. Frequency and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables whereas means, standard deviations were calculated for quantitative variables. P-values were calculated to determine the significance of the data (using Pearson Chi Square Test). The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Results

Out of 1979 patients admitted to the department during the study period, 715 died with a mortality rate of 36.12%. Reported males (n = 380, 53.1%) were significantly higher than females 335 (46.9%). Incidence was reported to be higher in females (n = 853), being 39.4% of the admitted female. In males, the death rate was comparatively less, being 33.6% of the 1129 males admitted [Table 1].

Table 1 Demographics, cause of burn, type of burn and TBSA in relation to mortality rate
Full size table

Mortality was higher in the age group between 16–30 years (n = 395, 55.2%). It was also significant in age group 61 years and above where out of n = 71 patients, 34 died (47.8%) as shown in Table 1. The youngest patient to die of the burn injury was a two year old male while oldest were two adults, one male and one female, each of 90 years respectively.

In the cases of accidental burns (n = 685) 95.8% of the patients died; whereas in the cases of suicide (n = 36), 24 died; giving a death rate of 66.67% [Table 1].

Fire burns was found to be the most common cause of death (n = 639, 89.3%). It was also the one with highest death rate of about 39.7% [Table 1].

Overall, majority (n = 252, 35%) of the patients who died had 61% or more the TBSA involved. Furthermore, out of the 317 patients with TBSA 61% or greater, 79.5% died. On applying linear regression analysis, strong correlation was found between burn area of the body (TBSA) and mortality i.e. 1.8% with 1% increase in TBSA [Table 1].

Discussion

We report a mortality rate of about 36% due to burn injuries in Karachi, Pakistan during our study duration. Burn injuries are associated with 5% of mortality globally. About 500 billion US $ is the overall expense per annum related to burn injuries[8].

Globally, several studies have reported mortality rate due to burn injuries. Olaitan et al. reported a 20% mortality rate in Osogbo, Nigeria[9]. A study from Rotterdam, Netherlands reported a fatality rate of 6.9%[10]. Similarly, Aldemir et al. from Turkey reported a death rate of 6.3%[11].

A study from Wah, Pakistan reported 29.7% death rate in burn patients[12]. Muqim et al. from Peshawar, Pakistan reported 19%[13], while Chaudhry IA reported about 21% burn fatality rate from Rawalpindi, Pakistan[14]. Our study has reported by far, the highest mortality rate. Karachi, being the largest and most populated city in Pakistan, and being the economic hub of the country, such high rates are troublesome.

Males are more usually victims of burn injuries as is evident by our study. However, female tend to have a higher mortality rate. Mortality was also high in age group more than 60 years, where about 47% patients expired. This is consistent with another study by Chaudhry IA[14].

TBSA was a significant association with death of patients, where about 80% patients with TBSA greater than 60% died. It corroborates and even surpasses the rate reported earlier by O’Mara et al. where 70% of patients with TBSA greater than 60% died[15]. A study in Pakistan also reported 50% TBSA, above which all the cases involved died[12].

Majority of the deaths in our patients was due to accidental causes, fire burns being the most common type. We should provide awareness of proper first aid responses that may prevent such cases to aggravate. Also, fire extinguishers should be made available at more places and people should be provided with awareness of their use.