An epidemiologic study of elderly burn patients in Ain Shams University Burn Unit, Cairo, Egypt.

Recent statistics from Egypt indicate that elderly persons comprise 5.8% of the general population. Elderly patients remain a high-risk group in all burn units. This prospective study investigated geriatric burn patients (defined as 60 years and older) who were present at our center between May 1995 and October 2001. Of the 4220 patients who were present during this period, 97 (2.3%) were elderly, and 63 (7.1%) of the 880 total admitted were geriatrics. Of the 97 elderly burn patients who were present during the study period, 31 died (mortality rate 31.9%). Other epidemiological data, including duration of hospitalization, seasonal and day/hour variation in burn incidence and burn causes and accident site are presented. Ideas for management and prevention are also presented.