Health-related quality of life of hospitalized patients with burns-comparison with general population and a 2-year follow-up

Abstract

Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has gained increasing interest as an important indicator of adaptation after a burn injury. Our objective was to compare HRQoL of medium severity hospitalized burn victims with no need for intensive care treatment with that of the general population.

Methods: The 15D HRQoL questionnaire at discharge, and 6, 12 and 24 months thereafter.

Results: 44 patients filled in the baseline questionnaire between June 2007 and December 2009. At discharge the mean (SD) HRQoL score (on a scale of 0-1) of the patients was worse in comparison with that of the general population (0.839 (0.125) vs. 0.936 (0.071)), p<0.001. The most striking differences (p<0.001) were seen on the dimensions of sleeping, usual activities, discomfort and symptoms, and sexual activity. At the 2-year follow-up the mean HRQoL score had increased from 0.835 (0.121) to 0.856 (0.149), but the difference was not statistically significant. Of the dimensions, moving and usual activities improved statistically significantly.

Conclusions: HRQoL of patients hospitalized for treatment of burns is, at discharge, compromised compared with that of the general population. During follow-up HRQoL showed slight improvement but remained at a clearly lower level.