Beyond the burn: An observational study of cardiovascular risk in burn survivors in the north of Iran

RETRACTION: Beyond the Burn: An Observational Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Burn Survivors in the North of Iran

RETRACTION

S. Samadi, A. Salari, M. Mobayen, M. Shakiba, A. Bazi, H. Hojjati, N. H. Pour, B. Farhadi, H. A. Otaghvar, A. Shirzadi, and M. Farzin, "Beyond the Burn: An Observational Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Burn Survivors in the North of Iran," International Wound Journal 21, no. 3 (2024): e14794, https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14794. The above article, published online on 29 February 2024 in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor in Chief, Professor Keith Harding; and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. A third party reported evidence of excessive self-citations by the authors. The publisher did not find that self-citations were unreasonable, given the topic. However, the publisher determined that the Methods were insufficiently supported by the references. It was also determined that there were significant problems with the methodology underlying the study, a finding which was supported by a Letter to the Editor published by the journal [1] which identified numerous flaws including the lack of a control group of non-burn patients. The investigation also found that the ethics statement contradicts the informed consent procedure outlined in the Methods section. In view of the major errors and inconsistencies identified, the editors have decided to retract the article. The authors did not respond to our notice regarding the retraction. Reference [1] M. Umar, K. Chattopadhyay, L. Shamim, and A. Visaria, "Letter to Editor: Beyond the Burn: An Observational Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Burn Survivors in the North of Iran," International Wound Journal 21, no. 6 (2024): e14794, https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14794.

Beyond the burn: An observational study of cardiovascular risk in burn survivors in the north of Iran

Burn survivors experience profound physiological changes following injury, which may have lasting implications for cardiovascular health. This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile among burn survivors treated at a burn center in northern Iran. This observational study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 at the burn centre affiliated with Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. This study assessed a cohort study of 210 burn survivors, focusing on individuals with ≥20% TBSA burn injuries who had recovered and returned to their daily lives. This study assessed patients' lipid profiles, Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score (FGCRS) and risk factors, including demographics, clinical variables and physical activity. Statistical analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age was 49.23 years, and the mean TBSA burned was 37.06%. The risk of cardiovascular disease in 66% of the study population was less than 10%, and in 13%, it was more than 20%. Significant associations were identified between CVD risk and sex, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, TBSA burned, years after burn, physical activity level and LDL. Of the lipid profile measures, LDL, triglycerides and TC/HDL exceeded the desirable levels. This research highlights the heightened cardiovascular risk in burn survivors, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions and regular monitoring. Identifying modifiable risk factors enables healthcare practitioners to develop tailored strategies, enhancing cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population and improving overall outcomes and quality of life.