Health related quality of life 5–7 years after minor and severe burn injuries: a multicentre cross-sectional study. Issue 6 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Spronk, Inge; Polinder, Suzanne; van Loey, Nancy E.E.; van der Vlies, Cornelis H.; Pijpe, Anouk; Haagsma, Juanita A.; van Baar, Margriet E.
• Is Part Of: Burns. Volume 45:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 1291
• Page End: 1299
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Burn injuries -- health-related quality of life -- long-term outcomes -- Predictors -- EQ-5D; Burns and scalds -- Periodicals; 617.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2019.03.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-4179

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Burn injury can affect health-related quality of life (HRQL). Knowledge concerning long-term HRQL in burn patients is limited. Therefore our aim was to evaluate long-term HRQL and to study predictors of impaired long-term HRQL. Methods: All adults with a length of stay (LOS) of ≥1 day (2011–2012) were invited. Also, adults with severe burns, i.e., >20% total body surface area (TBSA) burned or TBSA full thickness>5% (2010–2013) were invited. Participants completed the EuroQol(EQ)-5 D-5L + C and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) 5–7 years after burns. Results: This study included 256 patients (mean %TBSA 10%); 187 patients with minor burns and 69 patients with severe burns. Mean EQ-5D summary was 0.90 and EQ-VAS 83.2 in the minor burn patients, and 0.79 and 78.1 in the severe burn patients. Some problems in at least one dimension were experienced by 81% of patients with severe burns and 45% of those with minor burns. However, a minority reported severe or extreme problems; 15% of those with severe burns and 6% of those with minor burns. Patients with severe burns reported significantly more problems, except for anxiety/depression. In both patient groups most problems were reported on pain/discomfort. Length of hospital stay, gender and age were associated with lower long-term HRQL (EQ-VAS) in multivariate analyses, whereas only length of stay was associated with a lower summary score. Conclusions: The majority of patients experienced some problems with HRQL 5–7 years post burn. This emphasizes that burns can have a negative impact on an individual's HRQL, particularly in more severely burned patients, that persists for years. The HRQL dimensions most frequently affected include pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Patients with a prolonged hospital stay, females and older patients are at higher risk of poor HRQL in the long-term.