1Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, S. N. Medical College, Navanagar, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India
2Professor and Head, Department of Public Health, KLE University Nehru Nagar, Belgaum, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author: Gowri Shankar, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, S. N. Medical College, Bagalkot - 587 103, Karnataka, India. Email: drgowrijnmc@gmail.com, Mobile No.: +91-99866-13442
The geriatric population is continuously increasing due to improved living standards and better medical care. This study was done to know the epidemiology and outcome of burn injuries in geriatric patients.
A one-year prospective study during 2009 of burn injury patients of age 60 years or over admitted in two tertiary care hospitals in India were selected. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Board. Data regarding socio demographic profile, total burn surface area, mode of burn, co morbid conditions and outcome was recorded on a pre designed and pre tested questionnaire after informed consent and analyzed using percentages and Fisher Exact test.
Out of 235 adult burn patients, 16(6.80%) were more than 60 years of age. Majority (75%) were women. All were accidental and occurred at home. Flames contributed to 87.5% whereas scalds were seen in 12.5%. Co-morbidity was observed in 68.75% with cataract being the most common (45.45%). Mortality was 50% and all who died were women which is statistically significant. (p=0.038)
Geriatric population is at high risk for burns in their own homes and necessary precautionary measures should be taken by all concerned to prevent future incidents thereby decreasing the pain and misery and economic cost of treatment.
Burn Injuries, Geriatric Patients
