Prognostic Significance of Admission CRP Levels as a Predictor of Mortality in Burn Patients

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate CRP's value as a biomarker of mortality in burn victims admitted to a burn unit.

Method: This prospective longitudinal observational study investigates the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at admission and mortality in burn patients. Data were collected from 48 patients admitted to Sheikh Zayed Hospital between 16.02.2023 and 15.08.2023, focusing on demographics, burn characteristics, and laboratory findings. The study employed non-probability consecutive sampling and excluded individuals with certain medical histories. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between CRP levels and mortality, considering potential confounders.

Results: In a study of 48 burn patients, 87.5% survived, while 12.5% did not. Non-survivors had significantly higher total body surface area burned (41.3% vs 22.7%) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at admission (23.5 mg/L vs 10.6 mg/L) compared to survivors. Electric and 4th-degree burns, fever at admission was higher, and hospital stays were shorter for non-survivors. No significant differences were found in age and gender. A strong positive correlation was observed between total burn surface area and CRP at admission. Logistic regression revealed significant predictors of mortality, with CRP at admission showing substantial significance (SE = 8.893, p = 0.012, Exp(B) = 1.657, 95% CI [.000, .000]).

Conclusions: The results showed that CRP level at admission was a significant predictor of mortality among burn victims. This study concluded CRP levels might be a helpful biomarker for determining the severity of burns and projecting patient outcomes. Future research should address the identified limitations to strengthen the evidence base on CRP's prognostic value in burn injuries.