B54-34 Characterization of Burn Injuries and Impact of Pre-Existing Conditions on ICU Demand

Rationale Severe burn injuries frequently require prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) management. Identifying factors associated with extended ICU stays is critical for optimizing triage and resource use. This study aimed to characterize adult burn patients and analyze the relationship between pre-existing comorbidities and ICU length of stay categorized as ≤ 15 vs > 15 days. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted including adult patients admitted with burn injuries between 2023 and 2024 at a tertiary care hospital. Variables included age, sex, comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD), burn mechanism, total body surface area (TBSA), and ICU stay duration. Patients were classified into two groups: ICU stay ≤15 days or > 15 days. Comparative analyses between groups were performed using Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05. Results Among 236 eligible patients, 55.5 % (n = 131) had an ICU stay ≤15 days and 44.5 % (n = 105) stayed >15 days. Thermal burns were predominant (74.8 %), followed by electrical (20.9 %) and chemical (4.3 %) injuries. The median TBSA was 11.5 % (IQR 5-20). Patients with longer ICU stays more frequently had diabetes mellitus (16.2 % vs 6.1 %, p = 0.012) and hypertension (20.9 % vs 8.4 %, p = 0.008). No significant differences were observed for COPD (p = 0.77). Conclusion In this cohort of burn patients, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were significantly more prevalent among those with ICU stays longer than 15 days. These comorbidities may serve as early predictors of prolonged critical care needs and should be considered in resource allocation and early multidisciplinary management of burn patients.