Intertwined hands symbolizing resilience and healing after a burn injury.

Aging and Burns: Unveiling the Impact on Quality of Life

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study investigates how age affects the quality of life for upper body burn patients, challenging common assumptions and highlighting crucial insights for rehabilitation."

As populations worldwide age, understanding the unique health challenges faced by older adults becomes increasingly important. In Spain, projections estimate that over 34% of the population will be over 65 by 2066, highlighting the urgency of addressing age-related health issues. Among these are burn injuries, which pose a significant risk to the elderly due to factors such as impaired balance, decreased physical strength, and cognitive decline.

Burns to the upper body can be particularly debilitating, affecting both physical function and emotional well-being, and leading to a reduced quality of life (QoL). While many studies have explored QoL after burn injuries, there remains a gap in understanding how age specifically influences these outcomes. Older adults often face unique challenges in recovery and reintegration into their social environments, making it crucial to examine the impact of age on their perceived quality of life.

To address this gap, a recent study published in "Burns" journal investigated the influence of age on the QoL of patients who experienced burns to the upper body. By comparing younger and older adult burn survivors, the researchers sought to identify potential differences in QoL outcomes and inform more tailored rehabilitation strategies.

Does Age Really Matter? Examining the Quality of Life After an Upper Body Burn

Intertwined hands symbolizing resilience and healing after a burn injury.

The study, conducted at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, involved 58 patients with burns exclusively on the upper body. The participants were divided into two groups: those aged 65 years and younger, and those over 65 years. Researchers collected data on demographics, burn characteristics, medical history, and QoL using the Spanish version of the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS).

The BSHS is a widely used questionnaire designed to assess functioning level and health-related QoL in adult burn survivors. It consists of 71 items divided into four domains: physical health, mental health, social and sexual activity, and general health. Patients rate each item, and the mean score for each domain reflects their perceived QoL.

Study Design: Observational study with two age groups.
Participants: 58 patients with upper body burns.
QoL Assessment: Spanish version of the Burn Specific Health Scale.
Data Analysis: Statistical analysis using R software.

Surprisingly, the study found no significant differences in perceived QoL between the two age groups. Despite the elderly group having a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as high blood pressure and diabetes, their long-term QoL after the burn was comparable to that of younger patients. However, mortality rates were significantly higher in the elderly group, underscoring the increased risks they face following a burn injury.

Key Takeaways and Future Directions

While advanced age may not directly impact long-term QoL after an upper body burn, the study highlights the increased mortality risk faced by elderly burn patients. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive care and targeted interventions to improve survival rates in this vulnerable population. Further research is needed to explore the influence of early and specialized rehabilitation on short-term QoL and to identify specific factors that contribute to better outcomes for older adult burn survivors.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.burns.2018.09.016, Alternate LINK

Title: The Influence Of Age On Quality Of Life After Upper Body Burn

Subject: Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Journal: Burns

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Eva Santacreu, Laura Grossi, Patricia Launois, Silvia López, Maria Lluïsa Torrent-Bertran, Juan P. Barret

Published: 2019-05-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS), and what aspects of life does it evaluate for burn survivors?

The Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS) is a questionnaire consisting of 71 items that is used to assess functioning level and health-related quality of life in adult burn survivors. It is divided into four domains: physical health, mental health, social and sexual activity, and general health. Patients rate each item, and the mean score for each domain reflects their perceived quality of life after experiencing burns.

How did researchers assess the quality of life (QoL) in upper body burn patients, and what were the main groups compared in the study?

Researchers assessed the quality of life (QoL) using the Spanish version of the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS). This tool measures various domains, including physical health, mental health, social and sexual activity, and general health. The study compared two main groups: patients aged 65 years and younger and patients over 65 years, all of whom had experienced burns exclusively on the upper body. The purpose was to identify potential differences in QoL outcomes between these age groups.

Were there notable differences in the long-term quality of life between younger and older adults who sustained upper body burns, according to the study?

Surprisingly, the study found no significant differences in perceived long-term quality of life (QoL) between the younger and older age groups after experiencing upper body burns. Despite the elderly group having a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as high blood pressure and diabetes, their long-term QoL, as measured by the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS), was comparable to that of younger patients. However, it's important to note that mortality rates were significantly higher in the elderly group, underscoring the increased risks they face following a burn injury.

The study indicated that advanced age may not directly impact long-term quality of life (QoL) after an upper body burn; however, what significant risk was found to be elevated in elderly burn patients, and what does this imply for patient care?

While the study indicated that advanced age may not directly impact long-term quality of life (QoL) after an upper body burn, it highlighted the increased mortality risk faced by elderly burn patients. This underscores the importance of comprehensive care and targeted interventions to improve survival rates in this vulnerable population. Further research is needed to explore the influence of early and specialized rehabilitation on short-term QoL and to identify specific factors that contribute to better outcomes for older adult burn survivors. The study used the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS) to assess the patients.

What future research directions are suggested based on the findings regarding age and upper body burns, and how could they contribute to improving outcomes for older adults?

Based on the findings, future research should focus on exploring the influence of early and specialized rehabilitation on short-term quality of life (QoL) and identifying specific factors that contribute to better outcomes for older adult burn survivors. Understanding how early interventions impact QoL and pinpointing the key factors leading to improved outcomes could lead to more tailored and effective rehabilitation strategies. By using the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS), further studies can delve deeper into the nuanced aspects of recovery and well-being for older adults, ultimately improving their overall outcomes.