Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Maryam Ramezanian ¹
• Parissa Bagheri ²
• Cyrus Emir Alavi ³
• Mohaya Farzin ⁴
• MohammadReza Mobayen ⁵
• Moein Moghaddam Ahmadi ⁶
• Mohammad Tolouei ⁷
• Siamak Rimaz ⁸
• Mehdi Karimian ⁹
• Hojat Eftekhari ¹⁰
• Kiana Baghi ¹¹
• Ali Shabbak ⁷

¹ Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

² 1) Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. 2. Medical Education Research Center, Education Development Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

³ Razi Clinical Research Development Unit, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht. Iran

⁴ Department of Physiology, Razi Clinical Research Development Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁵ Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences,Rasht, Iran.

⁶ Poursina Clinical Research Development Unit, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht. Iran

⁷ Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁸ 1. Burn and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁹ Surgery Department of Manzarieh Hospital, Khomeini Shahr, Isfahan, Iran

¹⁰ Skin Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

¹¹ 4. Poursina Clinical Research Development Unit, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht. Iran

Abstract

Objectives: Severe burns often result in significant intravascular albumin loss, leading to hypoalbuminemia. This study aimed to evaluate the association between serum albumin levels and clinical outcomes in burn patients.
Methods: A retrospective, single-center study was conducted at Velayat Hospital (Rasht, Iran), including burn patients aged ≥16 years, who were admitted between April 2019 and March 2020. Serum albumin levels were recorded on day 1, day 7, and at discharge. The main variables analyzed included albumin levels, length of hospital stay, skin graft rate, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality.
Results: Among the 74 patients included in the study, 14 (18.9%) died, while 60 (81.1%) survived. The mean serum albumin levels on days 1, 7, and at discharge were significantly higher in survivors (3.09±0.22, 3.12±0.23, and 3.18±0.28 g/dL, respectively) than non-survivors (2.22±0.29, 2.74±0.29, and 2.07±0.69 g/dL, respectively) at all time points (p<0.001). The serum albumin level measured on day 1 was significantly lower in patients who required mechanical ventilation than in those who did not (2.86±0.47 vs.3.09±0.13, p=0.03). Additionally, a significant inverse relationship was observed between serum albumin levels and both total body surface area burned (TBSA) and graft extent (day 1: r_s=-0.76, day 7: r_s=-0.74, discharge: r_s=−0.62; p<0.001 for TBSA; and day 1: r_s=-0.59, day 7: r_s=-0.58, discharge: r_s=−0.50; p<0.001 for graft extent). 
Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia was associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with severe burns. Serum albumin levels might serve as a specific marker of burn severity and a predictor of mortality.

Keywords

• Serum albumin levels
• Albumin
• Burns
• Mortality