Prehospital and emergency data analysis in burn patients: Mortality predictors and response times over five years

Background: This study aimed to retrospectively examine the prehospital and emergency department processes of burn cases to evaluate process effectiveness, establish regional data, and identify factors affecting mortality in burn patients. Methods: The study included 784 burn cases treated by Ankara 112 Emergency Health Services and transferred to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Emergency Department between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023. Demographic data, burn characteristics, response times of 112 emergency health services, and patient outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 23.4+-20.7 years, with 36.7% being female. The most common type of burn was hot liquid burns (49.9%) and 73.7% of cases involved second-degree burns. The overall mortality rate was 5%. Logistic regression analysis identified advanced age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02), presence of inhalation burns (OR: 3.33), and burn percentage as independent risk factors for mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that age >44 years (38.5% sensitivity, 83.8% specificity) and burn surface >16% (89.7% sensitivity, 77.5% specificity) were predictive thresholds for mortality. Conclusion: Advanced age, extensive burn surface area, residence in rural areas, and inhalation injuries are key predictors of mortality in burn patients. Enhancing prehospital emergency services, implementing community education programs, and adopting a multidisciplinary approach are critical for preventing and effectively managing burn injuries.