Hospital-Treated Burn Injury: Patient Characteristics and Incidence in a Large Emergency Medical Services Region

Abstract

A retrospective study of 100% of hospital-treated burn injuries over a three-year period was conducted in a large emergency medical services region in the southwestern United States. Data collected from patient hospital records included demographic variables (eg, source of heat, accident location, and activity at time of burn) and outcome variables (eg, percent body surface area (BSA), percent full-thickness burns, mortality, and length of stay). Results, based on a population of 3,994 new burn hospitalizations, indicated that males appear to be at more risk than females, very young children appear to be at the greatest risk, and adolescents and young adults appear to be at greater risk than the population at large. Hot liquid and flame were the most common sources of heat; burn injuries occurred most frequently indoors at home; and most victims were treated for burns of less than 10% BSA. The incidence rate for the region in 1975 was more than twice the rate estimated for the West by the National Center for Health Statistics.