Epidemiological Profile and Mortality Patterns of Fatal Burn Injuries: A Retrospective Autopsy-Based Study From North India

Burn injuries constitute a significant cause of unnatural deaths in developing countries like India, particularly affecting women in domestic settings. This retrospective, autopsy-based study comprising 25 confirmed burn death cases from October 2018 to May 2025 (6 years and 7 months), was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS Rishikesh, a tertiary care hospital in North India. The objective of the study was to assess the epidemiological profile and autopsy findings of fatal burn cases for understanding patterns and determinants of burn-related mortality. In our study, the majority of victims were young adults aged 20-39 years, with a slight female predominance (56%, n=14). Most incidents occurred during winter (68%, n=17) and at home (76%, n=19), with flame burns being the most common type (84%, n=21). Accidental burns accounted for 80% (n=20) of cases, while suicidal and homicidal burns comprised 12% (n=3) and 4% (n=1), respectively. More than 68% of the cases had burns involving >40% of the total body surface area, while 32% (n=8) had burns involving >80% of the total body surface area. Survival was inversely related to total body surface area burnt, with more than 60% of victims dying within the first 7 days. Septicemia (76%, n=19) was the leading cause of death among burn victims. These findings underscore the need for improved domestic fire safety, early medical care, and better implementation of various government-run initiatives for the prevention and management of burn injuries.