Mortality Analysis of ICU Burn Patients in Indonesia’s National Referral Hospital: A 2-Year Retrospective Study

Burn injuries remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly among patients requiring intensive care. This retrospective study analyzed 66 burn patients admitted to the Burn ICU at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia, from January 2023 to December 2024, aiming to identify the primary causes of death, including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and inhalation injury. The cohort had a mean age of 40.8 years, with a predominance of male patients (65.2%). The average total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 51.1%, and half of the patients sustained full-thickness burns. Inhalation injuries were present in 48.5% of cases. Sepsis emerged as the most common complication (83.1%), followed by ARDS (40.0%) and kidney failure (15.4%). Surgical interventions were performed in 69.7% of patients, with early tangential excision conducted in over half. Despite these efforts, the mortality rate remained high at 69.2%, and the mean abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) score was 9.58. These findings highlight the critical burden of sepsis in burn-related deaths and underscore the need for enhanced infection control, early surgical management, and comprehensive ICU protocols to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.