Burden of burn injuries: quantifying the societal impact of burns with a state-of-art burden of disease methodology

SUMMARY

Rationale: Burden of disease calculations are an important resource in public health. The burden of disease aggregates all health consequences of a disease in one metric and is increasingly used for priority setting in health care, surveillance and interventions. For the calculation of the burden of disease, information on long-term consequences of the specific disease is needed. Currently, little is known about the long-term consequences and secondary conditions after burns. Therefore, calculation of the burden of burns is challenging.

Objective: To obtain a comprehensive overview of long-term (≥5 years after burn injury) consequences after burn injuries, both in all patients admitted to burn centre admissions and in a subgroup of patients who suffered from more extensive burns.

Study design: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

Study population: All burn patients (children and adults) who have been admitted to one of the three Dutch burn centres in the period August 2011 – July 2013 and with a hospital stay of more than one day or who have had surgical treatment for their burns.

For the cohort on extensive burns: all patients with extensive burns (over 20% total body surface area (TBSA)) in adults, over 10% TBSA in children <10 years or adults >50 years or TBSA third degree > 5% who had an admission to one of the three Dutch burn centres in the period 2010 – 2013.

Intervention (if applicable): Not applicable

Main study parameters/endpoints: To assess long-term health-related quality of life and long-term functioning, activities and participation of burn survivors, questionnaires that include questions on health-related quality of life, on body functioning, on participation and on environmental factors will be assessed in all patients.

In addition, to fully elucidate long-term consequences of extensive burns, muscular strength, aerobic capacity, contractures, body composition, fatigue, and habitual physical activity will be assessed in patients with extensive burns.

An observational study to obtain a comprehensive overview of long-term (≥5 years after burn injury) consequences after burn injuries, both in all patients admitted to burn centre admissions and in a subgroup of patients who suffered from more extensive burns.

Outcomes will assessed once. At least 5 years after burns.

None