title: Evaluation of long term health-related quality of life in extensive burns: a 12-year experience in a burn center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate the long term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients survived severely extensive burn and identify their clinical predicting factors correlated with HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 patients survived more than 2 years with extensive burn involving ≥70% total body surface area (TBSA) between 1997 and 2009 in a burn center in Shanghai. Short Form-36 Medical Outcomes Survey (SF-36), Brief Version of Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-B) and Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ) were used for the present evaluation. SF-36 scores were compared with a healthy Chinese population, and linear correlation analysis was performed to screen the clinical relating factors predicting physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores from SF-36.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HRQOL scores from SF-36 were significantly lower in the domains of physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, pain, social functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems compared with population norms. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that only return to work (RTW) predicted improved PCS. While age at injury, facial burns, skin grafting and length of hospital stay were correlated with MCS. Work, body image and heat sensitivity obtained the lowest BSHS-B scores in all 9 domains. Improvements of HRQOL could still be seen in BSHS-B scores in domains of simple abilities, hand function, work and affect even after a quite long interval between burns and testing. Hand function of extensive burn patients obtained relatively poor MHQ scores, especially in those without RTW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with extensive burns have a poorer quality of life compared with that of general population. Relatively poor physical and psychological problems still exist even after a long period. Meanwhile, a trend of gradual improvements was noted. This information will aid clinicians in decision-making of comprehensive systematic regimens for long term rehabilitation and psychosocial treatment.
authors: Department of Burn Surgery, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors: Bing
authors: B
authors: Xie
authors: Shi-chu
authors: SC
authors: Xiao
authors: Shi-hui
authors: SH
authors: Zhu
authors: Zhao-fan
authors: ZF
authors: Xia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology