Nutrition impact symptoms 6-12 months post-burn injury – a single-cohort longitudinal study

This study aimed to investigate long-term prevalence of nutrition impact symptoms, such as appetite and eating-related issues that may impede food intake, in patients with minor- and major-burn injuries. In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, sixty adults participated. Two questionnaires, the Disease-Related Appetite Questionnaire (DRAQ-burn) and the Eating Symptom Questionnaire (ESQ-burn), were completed during follow-up visits at six and 12 months post trauma. Median burn extent was 4.5% in the post-minor burn group and 24.0% in the post-major burn group. At six months, the median number of symptoms reported in DRAQ-burn was 2.0 for all patients; at 12 months, it was 1.0 post-minor burns and 1.5 post-major burns. Reported symptoms in the ESQ-burn remained stable at a median of 1.0 across both time points and burn severities. Most frequently reported symptoms included fluctuation in appetite/eating, never/rarely feeling hungry, tiredness affecting appetite/eating and nausea. No statistically significant differences were found between burn severity groups or over time. Overall, although the nutrition impact symptoms were reported to be more mild than severe in nature, they persisted for up to a year post burn, highlighting the need for ongoing nutritional follow-up to mitigate the risk of malnutrition. • Median prevalence of nutrition impact symptoms was 1–2 per patient. • No difference in symptom burden was observed between minor and major burns. • The nutrition impact symptoms appear to persist for up to 12 months post-injury. • Most prevalent symptom in the DRAQ-burn was varying appetite and lack of hunger. • Most prevalent symptom in the ESQ-burn was tiredness affecting appetite and nausea.