title: A population-based study of the epidemiology of acute adult burns in Ecuador from 2005 to 2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the demographic, risk factor, occupational, and morbidity and mortality characteristics of burns in adults in Ecuador using national data. These data are from the only specialized public hospital in Ecuador that has a 12-bed burn unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Institute of Statistics and Census provided data from the burn unit of the Hospital Eugenio Espejo, in Quito. Three different datasets pertaining to burn deaths, burn unit inpatient admissions, and hospital discharge were analyzed. Patients who died or were discharged before entering the burn unit were not included in this analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 10-year period, 1106 patients were admitted to the burn unit, men represent 69.37% with 768 cases and women represent 30.62% with 337 patients; the number of patients per year was on average 123 cases; the average age was 33-34 years old, with a range between 16 and 96 years old. Heat (thermal) burns represent 65.78% followed by electrical with 30.53%, friction burns with 2.06%, and chemical burns with 1.62%. Domestic methane gas was the most frequent agent causing thermal burns and the most affected occupational groups are construction workers and people who stay at home. The overall mortality is 10.2% and the average length of stay was 23 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thermal burns are more frequent than any other cause of burns. Electrical burns are more frequent in Ecuador than anywhere else according to our research, meaning that control and prevention of workplace safety, urban planning, and home safety are scarce. The most affected groups are those dedicated to labor work. Finally, mortality in hospitalized patient is higher when compared with developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de las Américas, Quito, Ecuador; Centro Internacional de Neurociencias, Quito, Ecuador; Universidad Yachay, Urcuqui, Ecuador. Electronic address: e.ortizprado@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Prado
authors.affiliation: Universidad Yachay, Urcuqui, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armijos
authors.affiliation: Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Ana Lucia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Iturralde
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D060389:Construction Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol burns; Burns; Ecuador; Electrical burns; Quito; Tissue bank