title: Epidemiological trends and risk factors in major burns patients in South Korea: a 10-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine epidemiological trends among burns patients admitted to our burns center during 2003-2012, and the usefulness of the Abbreviated Burns Severity Index (ABSI) for predicting burns-related mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the data of 4481 burns patients. We analyzed the epidemiological trends and ABSI scores using Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (continuous variables), chi-square test (categorical variables) and stepwise logistic-regression analysis (predictors of mortality).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age and male-to-female ratio were 39.9±19.7 years and 2.88, respectively. ABSI scores decreased from 7.7±3.0 in 2003 to 6.9±3.0 in 2012. Mortality rate improved from 24.5% in 2003 to 15.8% in 2012. Burns were caused by flames (67.3%), scalding (22.0%) and electrical (7.5%), chemical (1.6%) and contact (1.5%) injuries. Scalding and flames were the most common causes in patients aged ≤20 years and ≥21 years, respectively. Female sex, inhalation injury, full-thickness burns, large total body surface area (TBSA) burned and old age predicted mortality. ABSI scores <4 and >14 were associated with 0.7% and >90% mortality, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mortality of major burns has decreased but remains high. ABSI scores predict burns-related mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sdkps@hallym.or.kr.
authors.forename: Dong Kook
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dohern@hallym.or.kr.
authors.forename: Dohern
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kym
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: pkgom@hallym.or.kr.
authors.forename: Haejun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yht0227@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Hyeong Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: maruchigs@hallym.or.kr.
authors.forename: Yong Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: mcjemba@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Jong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hammerj@hallym.or.kr.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Burn Center, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 94-200, Youngdeungpo-dong, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-719, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chun0414@hallym.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Wook
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abbreviated Burns Severity Index; Epidemiological trends; Major burns; Mortality rate