A Study of the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Who Died from Burns at Zare Hospital, Sari, Between 2011 and 2023

Background and purpose: Burns are a major public health problem and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who died from burns at Zare Hospital in Sari between 2011 and 2023. Materials and methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted using data extracted from the medical records of all patients who were hospitalized and subsequently died in the burn wards. Individuals were included in the study through a census approach. The variables examined included gender, marital status, age, percentage of total body surface area burned, primary cause of burn, duration of hospitalization, and the presence or absence of inhalation injury, which was considered the main variable. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage, were used for analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: During the study period, 8,281 patients were hospitalized due to burns, of whom 882 (10.6%) died. Only data related to deceased patients were analyzed. The results showed that 514 (58.3%) of the deceased patients were men. The highest frequency was observed in the 19–40-year age group (50%). Married individuals constituted the majority of cases (64.3%). The average length of hospital stay among deceased patients was 10.49 ± 12.03 days, and the mean percentage of total body surface area burned was 66.9 ± 24.03%. More than half of the patients (57.4%) sustained burns covering at least 60% of their body surface. Also, 566 (70.8%) of the deceased patients had inhalation injuries. Overall, the number of burn-related deaths showed a gradual decline over the study period. Conclusion: The highest incidence of burn-related deaths occurred among middle-aged individuals, primarily due to inhalation burns, and most incidents took place in home settings. Therefore, implementing community-based educational programs, with a particular focus on fire safety and prevention in the home environment, is strongly recommended