Louisiana Research Day Program Book 2025

Clinical Research

Clinical Research

Kang D., BS, OMS-II; Nguyen J., BS, OMS-II; Lim J., BA, OMS-II; Zakaria J., BS, OMS-II; Gerges M., BS, OMS-IV; Moussaed A., BS, OMS-IV; Newell S. PhD 1 VCOM-Louisiana, Monroe, LA; 2 Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN 34 EYE-RELATED INJURIES AMONG GENERAL CLEANERS: INSIGHTS FROM A NATIONAL DATABASE ANALYSIS

Kang D., BS, OMS-II; Le C., BS, OMS-II; Lim J., BS, OMS-II; Zakaria J., BS, OMS-II; Gerges M., BS, OMS-IV; Moussaed A., BS, OMS-IV; Newell S. PhD 1 VCOM-Louisiana, Monroe, LA; 2 Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN 35 SMOKING-RELATED SKIN INJURIES: INSIGHTS FROM A NATIONAL DATABASE ANALYSIS

Context: Ocular exposure to household cleaning products, such as bleach, accounts for approximately 125,000 eye-related injuries annually, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). These exposures contribute to the broader burden of vision impairment in the United States, highlighting the critical need for interventions and preventative strategies to address this significant public health issue. Objectives: To investigate ocular injuries associated with bleach and general-purpose cleaning products in the United States and explore injury patterns across demographic variables such as gender, age, product types, behavioral habits, and exposure circumstances. Methods: Data were sourced from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a national database that reports deidentified hospital cases of product-related injuries involving children and adults of all ages in the United States. The study focused on eye injuries caused by general-purpose and bleach cleaners, sampling 814 and 1,461 cases, respectively. Based on a retrospective review of

cases reported between 2014 and 2023, data were analyzed for differences in sex, age, and diagnosis. Results: Demographic variables, including gender, diagnosis, and age, were analyzed for ocular injuries caused by bleach and general purpose cleaners. Among bleach-related injuries, females were more commonly affected, with ocular chemical burns being the most frequent diagnosis. Conversely, general-purpose cleaner related injuries were more prevalent in males, with ocular chemical burns also being the most diagnosed injury. These findings underscore evolving trends in ocular injury patterns and highlight the need for further investigation into potential contributing factors. Conclusions: The study highlights the significant burden of eye injuries associated with household cleaning products, particularly bleach and general-purpose cleaners. Chemical burns were the most common type of ocular injury, disproportionately affecting females for bleach-related incidents and males for general-purpose cleaner incidents. The findings underscore the need for targeted preventative

strategies, including improved product labeling, public awareness campaigns, and stricter safety measures. Enhanced safety standards and public education can help minimize these injuries, reduce healthcare burdens, and protect at-risk populations.

Context: According to resources such as the U.S. Fire Administration Learning Resources, Center, National Newspaper Index, CDC Smoking and Health Databases, and the World Wide Web, fires cause 1% of the global burden of diseases and 300,000 deaths per year. In which smoking material (e.g., cigarettes) and the tools used to light them is the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. Objective: This paper aims to examine the most common body location of skin injuries from cigarette/lighter fire incidents to create more effective warnings or even update child-resistant ignition systems in lighters to prevent specific injuries to common body locations such as face and hand. Methods: This study employed a retrospective analysis utilizing the NEISS database, a national database reporting anonymous hospital cases of product-related injuries. The database contained 408 cases of cigarette fire injuries (including from cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or tobacco) and 650 cases of lighter related fire injuries (including from lighter fluids, lighters, electric-multi purpose lighters, and torch lighters) in a retrospective

time frame from 2014-2023. Data were gathered for differences in sex, age, and location of body injury. Results: The analysis revealed males being disproportionately affected, with males 2.39 times more likely than females to sustain cigarette-related fire injuries and 1.67 times more likely to experience lighter-related fire injuries annually. From 2014 to 2023, the face was the most commonly affected body region for cigarette-related fire injuries (n = 167). Similarly, the face was the most frequently injured site in lighter-related fire incidents (n = 237). However, the hand was the second most common site for lighter-related injuries (n – 129), accounting for only 54% of the face injury cases. Conclusions: Fires caused by smoking materials and lighters remain a significant public health concern, contributing to severe injuries and fatalities globally, highlighting the need for improved safety measures and preventive strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing gender and age disparities in injury risks and prioritizing interventions to reduce injuries to the most

commonly affected body locations, particularly the face and hands. Targeting preventative measures, such as improved safety standards for child-resistant ignition systems in lighters, stricter regulations, and enhanced public education campaigns about the risks associated with smoking materials, could collectively lessen the burden of fire-related injuries. These efforts would ultimately improve public safety and reduce long-term consequences on individuals and healthcare systems.

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2025 Research Recognition Day