title: The mechanisms, intensity of treatment, and outcomes of hospitalized burns: issues for prevention.
abstract: The mechanisms, intensity of treatment, and outcomes of fire and burn injuries that result in hospitalizations were investigated to assist in ongoing prevention efforts. All hospital discharge records with a fire or burn diagnosis were extracted from the 1994 Pennsylvania statewide hospital discharge data. Cases were categorized into 4 specific burn mechanisms: conflagrations, controlled fires, clothing ignition, and hot substances and scalds. A total of 3173 cases were reported for a rate of 26.3 per 100,000 people. Hot substances and scalds were the most common mechanism (58%) of fire and burn hospitalizations. While most injuries resulting from clothing ignition, conflagrations, and hot substances and scalds were reported as unintentional, 25% of the cases resulting from controlled fires were reported as self-inflicted. The mean hospital charge per hospitalization day (which reflected the intensity of burn treatment) was 2783 but varied significantly by mechanism (P < .001): $4102 for cases resulting from conflagrations; $3402 for cases resulting from clothing ignition; and $2187 for cases resulting from hot substances and scalds. The overall in-hospital case fatality rate was 2.4%. Prevention strategies for these injuries are outlined for injury control professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-4772, USA.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Forjuoh
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology