Epidemiological, demographic, and outcome characteristics of burns

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 426,985 persons sustained burns in the United States annually during 2001–21. The nonfatal unintentional crude injury rate per 100,000 population decreased over the 20-year period, from 175 in 2001 to 82 in 2021. The American Burn Association’s National Burn Repository Summary Report for 2022 (which is based on data for 2016–21) documented 177,307 admissions to US burn centers over the 5-year period, or an average of 35,461 per year. These patients had an average length of stay of 8.6 days and an in-hospital mortality of 3.2%. Despite improvements in injury rates and in mortality after burns, the condition remains a significant problem for survivors, many of whom experience long-term physical, physiologic, psychological, and functional challenges. This chapter investigates changes that have occurred in burn occurrence, severity, causes, and outcomes, both in the United States and globally.