Hypoalbuminemia in burn patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/onpoWqpxn5Q   Background: Burns contributes substantially to illness and death rates in underdeveloped nations. Hypoalbuminemia is a medical disorder that has been observed in both burn patients and individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Hypoalbuminemia has been observed to exacerbate the severity of burn injuries and potentially COVID-19 infections. This retrospective study aimed to examine the disparity in hypoalbuminemia occurrence and its association with mortality among burn patients, specifically focusing on those infected with and without COVID-19. Methods: The present investigation is a retrospective cross-sectional study examining the disparities in hypoalbuminemia occurrence and its association with mortality among burn patients with or without COVID-19. The study was conducted at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya, covering the time frame from March 2020 to December 2022. Results: Among a cohort of 225 individuals who presented with acute phase burns, both with and without COVID-19, a total of 125 patients (57.1%) were seen to develop hypoalbuminemia during their treatment at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital between March 2020 and December 2022. This study found no statistically significant disparity in mean albumin levels and mortality outcomes between acute-phase burn patients with COVID-19 and those without COVID-19 who experienced hypoalbuminemia. Nevertheless, notable disparities (p<0.05) were seen in terms of age, length of stay (LOS), and severity of burns among hypoalbuminemia patients who were discharged from the hospital (KRS) for outpatient care and those who succumbed to their condition. Conclusion: Our findings indicate no statistically significant disparity in albumin levels and mortality rates among burn patients, regardless of whether they are also diagnosed with COVID-19. Nevertheless, variables such as age, length of stay (LOS), and burn area exhibit notable variations in the outcome of death.