Burn Injury Patterns in Emergency Department Visits

Every year, medical attention is needed for 1.1 million burn injuries in the United States with costs of care accumulating up to $10 billion annually. The burns can range in severity from first degree to third degree and may be the result of various hazards such as fire, electricity, chemicals, or the sun. The goal of this study was to assess the trends of burn injuries and severities by patient demographic factors. A total of 7,145 patients presenting to the emergency department meeting the criteria of burn injuries (ICD-10 codes: T29, T30, and T31) were extracted from the United States 2019 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care (NHAMCS) survey, compiled by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and chi-square tests with an alpha significance level at 0.05. Adults 61 and older reported most burn injuries with fire being the most common cause in this group, while those between the ages of 46-60 years reported the least. There were no significant differences between males and females in the severity of burns, whereas there were differences in the type of burns. Whites accounted for the highest number of burn related injuries, whereas Asians demonstrated the least. The racial disparity suggests the importance of addressing equity in prevention, access, treatment, and care. In addition, it is necessary to implement age-specific interventions and targeted educational programs to address vulnerabilities among different age groups.