(043) Substance use and psychiatric disorders among admitted burn patients before and after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Substance use and psychiatric disorders among admitted burn patients before and after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Learning objective: Identify the potential effect that a mass trauma event such as the COVID-19 pandemic has on rates of substance use and psychiatric disorders in burn inpatients.

Background: In 2020, increased prevalence of psychiatric and substance use disorders were observed in trauma surgery populations, with the COVID-19 pandemic posited as the major contributing factor (Ohliger, 2020. McGraw, 2021). Burn patients, similar to trauma surgery patients, have increased rates of substance use and psychiatric disorders when compared to the general population, and these are known risk factors for burn injuries (Logsetty, 2016). Accordingly, this study aims to determine if a change in the prevalence of substance use, substance use disorders and mental illness occurred among burn inpatients admitted to a large, verified, burn center the year before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective study using data from an institutional burn center registry and patient records was performed. Sociodemographic, burn characteristics and outcome data was collected on all adults admitted to a large academic burn center between March 29, 2019 and March 28, 2021. For this study, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was identified as March 29, 2020, as this is the date the stay-at-home order went into effect in our state. Rates of burn patients with substance use, psychiatric and substance use disorders at the time of admission were compared pre- and post-pandemic.

Results: Data analysis will be complete by August 2022.

Discussion: After data analysis, we will compare the results of our study to previously published work among similar populations that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and/or other mass trauma events, highlighting similarities and differences.

Implications: Data from this study will allow burn clinicians and psychiatric consultants to more accurately anticipate future public health needs, to implement preventive measures, and to allocate support and resources accordingly to burn and other vulnerable patient populations in the setting of a mass trauma event.

References:
Logsetty S et al. Mental health outcomes of burn: A longitudinal population-based study of adults hospitalized for burns. Burns. 2016 Jun;42(4):738-44.

Ohliger E et al. Mental health of orthopaedic trauma patients during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Int Orthop. 2020 Oct;44(10):1921-1925.

McGraw C et al. Patterns of alcohol and drug utilization in trauma patients during the COVID-19 pandemic at six trauma centers. Inj Epidemiol. 2021 Mar 22;8(1):24.