Burn injuries in primary care in the Netherlands: Risk factors and trends. Issue 2 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Zoonen, Eva E.; van Baar, Margriet E.; van Schie, Carine H.M.; Koppes, Lando L.J.; Verheij, Robert A.
• Is Part Of: Burns. Volume 48:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 440
• Page End: 447
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: GP general practitioner -- OOH out-of-hours -- ED emergency department -- SES socioeconomic status -- ICPC-1 International Classification of Primary Care - version 1 -- CBS Statistics Netherlands -- SCP The Netherlands Institute for Social Research -- OR odds ratio; Primary care -- General practitioner -- Burns -- Epidemiology -- Risk factors -- Burn prevention; Burns and scalds -- Periodicals; 617.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.04.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-4179

Abstract

Highlights: Dutch primary care treats 92× as many patients with burns, compared to secondary care. Burns in general practice are most prevalent in 0−4-year-olds and young adult women. People living in low socioeconomic neighbourhoods have a higher burn injury risk. General practitioners should be involved in the prevention of burn injury. Important target periods for Dutch burns prevention are the summer and New Year. Abstract: Background: Research to date has mainly focused on burn injuries treated in secondary care. This study aims to provide knowledge on the epidemiology of burn injuries in primary care, to give directions for burn prevention. Methods: Data were derived from routine electronic health records of general practices and their out-of-hours service organisations in the Netherlands that participated in the Nivel Primary Care Database 2010–2015. We studied risk factors and trends. Results: The average burn injury prevalence rate was 4.40 (95% CI 4.27–4.53) per 1000 person-years in daytime general practice care and 1.47 (95% CI 1.46–1.49) per 1000 inhabitants in out-of-hours care. Children of 0−4 years old, especially boys, and young adult women had a higher risk. Burn injury risk was higher during the summer months and around New Year's Eve. Living in low socioeconomic and strongly urbanised neighbourhoods was associated with a higher risk of burn injury than living in other neighbourhoods. Conclusion: Dutch general practitioners have a large share in burn care and therefore can play a significant role in burn prevention. Prevention may be most effective in the summer and around New Year's Eve, and specific attention seems to be warranted for low socioeconomic groups and strongly urbanised neighbourhoods.