Incidence and characteristics of chemical burns.
OBJECTIVE
Chemical burns can lead to serious health outcomes. Previous studies about chemical burns have been performed based on burn center data so these studies have provided limited information about the incidence of chemical burns at the national level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of chemical burns using nationwide databases.


METHODS
A cohort representing the Korean population, which was established using a national health insurance database, and a nationwide workers' compensation database were used to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of chemical burns. Characteristics of the affected body region, depth of burns, industry, task, and causative agents were analyzed from two databases. The incidence of chemical burns was calculated according to employment status.


RESULTS
The most common regions involving chemical burns with hospital visits were the skin followed by the eyes. For skin lesions, the hands and wrists were the most commonly affected regions. Second degree burns were the most common in terms of depth of skin lesions. The hospital visit incidence was 1.96 per 10,000 person-year in the general population. The compensated chemical burns incidence was 0.17 per 10,000 person-year. Employees and the self-employed showed a significantly increased risk of chemical burns undergoing hospital visits compared to their dependents.


CONCLUSIONS
Chemical burns on the skin and eyes are almost equally prevalent. The working environment was associated with increased risk of chemical burns. Our results may aid in estimating the size of the problem and prioritizing prevention of chemical burns.
Department of Occupational Environmental Medicine, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, South Korea.
Dong-Hee
DH
Koh
Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, South Korea.
Sang-Gil
SG
Lee
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, 100 Inharo, Nam-gu, Incheon, South Korea. Electronic address: carpediem@inha.ac.kr.
Hwan-Cheol
HC
Kim
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D055815:Young Adult
Burns; Chemical burns; Corrosion