Factors associated with residential fire-related hospitalisations and deaths: A 10-year population-based study

Nargess Ghassempour; W Kathy Tannous; Kingsley E Agho; Gulay Avsar; Lara A Harvey

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2023.02.012

Factors associated with residential fire-related hospitalisations and deaths: A 10-year population-based study

Burns. 2023 Dec;49(8):1854-1865. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2023.02.012. Epub 2023 Feb 22.

Authors

Nargess Ghassempour¹, W Kathy Tannous², Kingsley E Agho³, Gulay Avsar⁴, Lara A Harvey⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia; Rozetta Institute Group, The Rocks, NSW 2000, Australia.
² School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia; Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
³ Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
⁴ School of Business, Western Sydney University, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
⁵ Fall, Balance and Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia.

PMID: 36872101
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2023.02.012

Abstract

This study aims to identify residential fire risk factors and their health outcomes in terms of hospital admissions from burns and smoke inhalation together with related readmissions, length of hospital stay (LOS), costs of hospitalisation and mortality within 30 days of the fire incidence. Residential fire-related hospitalisations from 2005 to 2014 in New South Wales, Australia were identified using linked data. Univariate and multivariable Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with residential fires on hospital admission and loss of life. During the study period, 1862 individuals were hospitalised due to residential fires. In terms of prolonged LOS, high hospitalisation cost or mortality, fire incidents' that damaged both contents and structures of the property; were ignited by smokers' materials and/or due to mental or physical impairment of the residents had more adverse outcomes. Individuals aged 65 and over with comorbidities and/or acquired severe injuries from the fire incident were at a higher risk of long-term hospitalisation and death. This study provides information to response agencies in communicating fire safety messages and intervention programs to target vulnerable population. In addition, it also supplies indicators on hospital usage and LOS following residential fires to health administrators.

Keywords: Injury Risk Factors; Linked data; Mortality Risk Factors; Residential Fire; Residential Fire Deaths; Residential, Fire Hospitalizations.

MeSH terms

Burns* / epidemiology
Fires*
Hospitalization
Humans
Length of Stay
Smoke Inhalation Injury* / epidemiology