Epidemic Profile of Burned Patients at the Hospital Regional de Urgência e Emergência de Campina Grande – Paraíba – Brazil

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective: To delineate the burned patients’ epidemic profile admitted at Hospital Regional of Campina Grande-Paraíba-Brazil. Material and Methods: 163 patients were selected for the study, including male and female, and all age groups. The investigation parameters included age, gender, etiology of the burned and gravity. The data obtained occurred through the survey of the handbooks of the inpatients’ at the Burn Care Unit of the hospital. Results: In relation to gender, the male was prevalent 104 (63.8%), and in terms of age, the age group that suffered more burns was age group 0 to 20 (61.4%). Concerning the gravity of the burns, the prevalence was for moderate lesions – 103 cases (62.2%), followed by light and severe lesions 30 cases (18.4%). Statistic associations were observed significantly for age and etiological agents (p=0.03) and age and gravity of lesions (p=0.03), the same occurred between the variable agents, etiological and gravity of the lesions (p=0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of burns for the age group 0 to 20 years of age and for moderate lesions shows the need to modify the epidemiologic profile of the burned, especially in terms of the gravity of the lesions. The importance of this profile favors the identification of risk groups, proportioning conditions to organize prevention campaigns that can contribute to the reduction of the magnitude of this kind of trauma, rendering reduction of inpatient treatments. DESCRIPTORS Burn Care Units. Epidemiology. Hospitalization.