Tehran University Medical Journal (Aug 2017)
Measuring the amount of serum albumin in burn patients and the relationship between the burned area and length of hospital stay
Abstract
Background: Albumin is one of the most important proteins in the body by several important functions, it is essential in the maintenance of normal plasma colloid oncotic pressure and is the primary serum binding protein responsible for the transport of various substances in the circulation including fatty acids, hormones, and drugs. Decrease in the amount of serum Albumin (Hypoalbuminemia) is a common finding in the burn patients, but its relationship with mortality is not accurately clear. Our purpose of this study was to measure the amount of Albumin serum in burn patients and find out its relationship between the burned area and length of hospital stay. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged over 16 years who referred to the Motahari Hospital of September 2014 to February 2015 in the first 24 hours of their referral. The amount of Albumin was measured in two groups of discharged patients and patients who died while hospitalized, one week after hospital stay and in the time of discharge and death; and its relationship in terms of each other was determined by statistical analysis. We also assessed the relationship between burn and duration of hospital stay with the amount of Albumin on the day of patient’s admission. Results: This study showed that the average amount of albumin in the group of discharged patients in the time of admission, one week after and during admission was significantly higher than the group of expired patients (P<0.0001). Also there was a significant relation between the burned area and the amount of albumin (P<0.0001). The more the burned area, the less the amount of Albumin. But there was no significant relationship between the amount of albumin with age and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Measuring the level of Albumin is one of the yardsticks that can be used for prognosis of recovery or death of burn patients, and its assessment at regular intervals in burn patients is essential.
