Determinants and time to blood transfusion among thermal burn patients admitted to Mulago Hospital

BMC Research Notes

Table 1 Description of study participants

Variable	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Distribution of burns patients by pre-injury factors
Sex
Male	75	67.0
Female	37	33.0
Age group
<5	66	58.93
5–12	10	8.93
>12	36	32.14
Body mass index
Above normal	19	16.9
(18.5–25 kg/m²) normal	59	52.7
Below normal	34	30.4
Pre-existing illness
Non	93	83.0
Any blood disorders	2	1.8
Respiratory disease	7	6.3
Epilepsy	6	5.4
Others	4	3.6
Distribution of burns patients by injury related factors
Cause of burn
Scalds	74	66.1
Flame	37	33.0
Contact	1	0.9
Body part involved
Face	2	1.8
Head and neck	1	0.9
Trunk	1	0.9
Extremities	5	4.5
Perineum	1	0.9
Multiple parts	102	91.1
Degree/depth of burns
Partial superficial	99	88.4
Partial deep	4	3.6
3rd degree	2	1.8
Mixed	7	6.3
Inhalation injury
Present	28	25
Absent	84	75
Severity of the burns
Minor	1	0.9
Moderate	29	25.9
Major	82	73.2
Percentage of TBSA
Less than 20	62	55.4
20 and above	50	44.6
WBC count at admission
Normal	66	58.9
Abnormal	46	41.0
Hb count at admission
10–11	16	14.3
8–9.9	32	28.6
6–7.9	2	1.8
>11	62	55.4
Other injury
Yes	4	3.57
No	108	96.43
Total	112	100.00
Distribution of burns patients by post injury factors
Surgical procedures performed
Yes	13	11.61
No	99	88.39
Disposition/ward
ICU	26	23.21
Holland	86	76.79
Type of admission
Primary	92	82.14
Referral	20	17.86
WBC count during admission
Yes	64	57.14
No	49	42.86
Source of infection
Yes	49	43.75
No	63	56.25
Low haemoglobin level
Yes	68	60.71
No	44	39.29
Lowest serum albumin
Normal (3.5–4.9)	25	22.32
>2.9–3.5	23	20.54
2.5–2.9	15	13.39
Severe (<2.5)	49	43.75

We classified variables as injury, pre injury and post injury factors to single out which factors risk a patient to blood transfusion
A total of 112 patients were recruited. 67% of these were male. A larger percentage was children under 5 years of age and commonly due to lack of adult supervision of these children back at home. 30% of the participants were admitted with an initial below average Basal metabolic rate range whereas 52% were within normal BMI range. Comorbidities including epilepsy were observed in 17% of the participants
The most common cause of these burns was scalds (66.1%). And among patients with open flame burns, 25 presented with inhalation injury
Approximately 12% of the participants had surgery (skin grafting, Escharotomy or amputation) whereas we offered routine wound care to all participants. 99% of the patients were moderately or severely injured and 23.21% ended up in the burns intensive care unit

ISSN: 1756-0500