Citation

Theodorou P, Spanholtz TA, Amini P, Maurer CA, Phan TQ, Perbix W, Lefering R, Spilker G. Burns 2009; 35(8): 1152-1157.

Affiliation

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2009.02.009

PMID

19464804

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with assault burn injuries. BACKGROUND: Assault by burning demonstrates a rare but severe public health issue and accounts for unique injury characteristics in the burn intensive care unit (BICU). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients with thermal injuries admitted to the BICU of a university hospital. The patient cohort was divided into two groups (ABI group: patients with assault burns, n=41; Control group: population of all other burned patients admitted to the BICU, n=1202). Bivariate and multivariate analyses including demographic and socioeconomic data were used to identify factors associated with assault burns. RESULTS: Forty-one assault-related burn victims were identified in the study period. This represents 3.3% of all significant burns admitted. Comparing battery victims with the control population, assault patients were more likely to be young (mean age 36.2 years vs. 42.2 years) and immigrants (41.5% vs. 15.1%). Furthermore, marital status (65.9% vs. 40.8% singles), employment status (36.6% vs. 9.7% unemployed) and insurance status (41.5% vs. 12.3% social insurance) were significantly different in the bivariate analysis. Logistic regression evaluation identified three variables that were independently associated with assault burns: younger age (

Language: en