The Utilisation of INR to identify coagulopathy in burn patients

Abstract

Studies conflict on the significance of burn-induced coagulopathy. We posit that burn-induced coagulopathy is associated with injury severity in burns. Our purpose was to characterize coagulopathy profiles in burns and determine relationships between % total burn surface area (TBSA) burned and coagulopathy using the International Normalized Ratio (INR). Burned patients with INR values were identified in the TriNetX database and analyzed by %TBSA burned. Patients with history of transfusions, chronic hepatic failure, and those on anticoagulant medications were excluded. Interquartile ranges for INR in the burned study population were 1.2 (1.0-1.4). An INR of ≥ 1.5 was used to represent those with burn-induced coagulopathy as it fell outside the 3rd quartile. The population was stratified into subgroups using INR levels <1.5 or ≥1.5 on the day of injury. Data are average ± SD analyzed using chi-square; p < .05 was considered significant. There were 7,364 burned patients identified with INR <1.5, and 635 had INR ≥1.5. Comparing TBSA burned groups, burn-induced coagulopathy significantly increased in those with ≥20% TBSA; p = .048 at 20-29% TBSA, p = .0005 at 30-39% TBSA, and p < .0001 for 40% TBSA and above. Age played a significant factor with average age for those with burn-induced coagulopathy 59 ± 21.5 years and 46 ± 21.8 for those without (p < .0001). After matching for age, TBSA, and demographics, the risk of 28 day-mortality was higher in those with burn-induced coagulopathy compared to those without (risk difference 20.9%, p < .0001) and the odd ratio with 95% CI is 4.45 (3.399-5.825). Investigation of conditions associated with burn-induced coagulopathy showed the effect of heart diseases to be significant; 53% of patients with burn-induced coagulopathy had hypertension (p < .0001). Burn-induced coagulopathy increases with %TBSA burned. The information gained firmly reflects a link between %TBSA and burn-induced coagulopathy, which could be useful in prognosis and treatment decisions.