Recent trends in burn epidemiology worldwide: A systematic review.
Burns have been more prevalent among low socioeconomic populations and in less developed regions. Incredible advances in burn care and social development over the recent decades, however, should have placed the incidence and severity of burns in a downwards trend. The aim of this review was to give an overview on current trends in burn epidemiology across the world. Also the socioeconomic development in countries that have published epidemiological data used in this study has been taken into account when comparing the results. There was a worldwide downwards trend of burn incidence, burn severity, length of hospital stay, and mortality rate. These findings were particularly pronounced in very highly developed countries. Data from highly and medium developed countries were more heterogeneous. No studies could be obtained from low and middle income countries. Comparisons between the different studies were compromised by the fact that studies emerged from specialized facilities on one hand and general hospitals on the other. Analyzed studies were also frequently focusing on limited patient populations such as "children" or "elderly". Our findings indicate the need for an international burn database with a minimal data-set in order to obtain objective and comparable results in respect of burn epidemiology.
Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: christian.smolle@gmail.com.
Christian
C
Smolle
Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria.
Janos
J
Cambiaso-Daniel
School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0724, USA.
Abigail A
AA
Forbes
Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria; Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0724, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725, USA.
Paul
P
Wurzer
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0724, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725, USA.
Gabriel
G
Hundeshagen
Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria; Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0724, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children, 815 Market St., Galveston, TX 77550-2725, USA.
Ludwik K
LK
Branski
Burn Center, Department of Plastic- and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
Fredrik
F
Huss
Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036 Graz, Austria.
Lars-Peter
LP
Kamolz
D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
Burn; Development; Epidemiology; Mortality; Severity; Trend