The epidemiology of burns in a medical center in the Caribbean

Abstract 

A retrospective study on burns patients admitted to the Sint Elisabeth's Hospital on Curacao was conducted during the 11-year period from the years 1992 to 2002. This is the first such study performed in Curacao. Curacao does not have an established burn center, therefore severe burns cases are treated in a general hospital. Only the very severe cases are referred to burn centers abroad.

Data were collected on incidence, gender, age, cause, total body surface area (TBSA burned), degree, localization, case fatality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and seasonal variation. A total of 336 burns patients were admitted. This represented an annual admission of 31 patients, and an annual cumulative incidence of 2.3 episodes per thousand persons for burns admissions. The male to female ratio was 1.6:1, and the mean age of admission was 24.3 years. Most burned patients were observed in the age group ranging from 0 to 4 years old (29.2% of all burns cases). The mean TBSA of burn was 13.6%, range 0.5–80%. The most common cause of burn was scald (47.9%) followed by flame (22.3%). The overall mean LOS and case fatality were 15.8 days and 3.3%, respectively. Second and first degree combined, and second-degree only burns were the most frequent. Most frequent localizations burned were the arms, thorax, and legs. Most burns occurred at the end and at the beginning of each year (comparable to winter and spring period in other studies), being the seasons with the most public holidays and other festivities.

We conclude that the incidence, age and gender distribution, LOS and TBSA of burns on Curacao were very similar to data from other international studies from the US, Europe and Asia. Scald and fire were the major causes of burns, being preventable injuries. Especially in young children the need for a prevention program is essential. Also, there is a need to inform people from all ages on the danger of fire injuries, especially during public holidays and other festivities when the incidence is the highest.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Burns, Incidence, Age, Cause