Trends and inpatient outcomes for palliative care services in major burn patients: A 10-year analysis of the nationwide inpatient sample.

INTRODUCTION

Despite advances in critical care and the surgical management of major burns, highly moribund patients are unlikely to survive. Little is known regarding the utilization and effects of palliative care services in this population.

METHODS

All major burn hospitalizations were identified within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Patients were characterized by burn, demographic, facility, and diseases factors. Palliative care services were identified with International Classification Disease 9th edition code V6.67. Temporal trends were assessed with Poisson modeling. Inpatient mortality and death without surgical intervention were assessed with logistic regression. Outcomes were stratified by modified Baux scores.

RESULTS

7424 major burns were included; 1.9% received palliative care services. Patients receiving palliation had a mean age of 63.6 years (SD 19.6), mean total body surface area of 62.2% (SD 24.9%), and mean modified Baux score of 127.1 (SD 26.7). Adjusting for covariates, the incidence rate ratio was 1.42 over the 10-year period (95% CI, 1.31-1.54, p<0.001). Independent predictors of palliative consultations included older age, larger burns, deeper burns, and higher Elixhauser comorbidity score. Among patients with modified Baux scores between 100-153, those receiving palliative care services were significantly more likely to die without surgery, OR 3.24 (95% CI 1.13-10.39, p=0.029), with no significant difference in mortality, OR 11.72 (95% CI 0.87-22.57, p=0.051) CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Palliative care services were increasingly used during the study period. Palliative care services in highly moribund burn patients do not impact survival and may decrease the likelihood of surgical intervention in select patients.