Burn injuries in the United States continue to pose a significant healthcare challenge, with various data points highlighting the annual incidence, hospitalizations, deaths, and associated costs. Here's a breakdown of the key statistics from recent reports:

Annual Statistics

• Total Burn Injuries Receiving Medical Treatment: In 2021, approximately 398,000 individuals received medical treatment for burn injuries across various healthcare settings in the U.S.​ (American Burn Association)​.

• Hospital Admissions: There were about 29,165 hospital admissions due to burn injuries, translating to roughly 88.5 admissions per million people. Notably, a significant portion of these cases involved serious conditions requiring intensive treatment​ (American Burn Association)​.

• Mortality: There were approximately 3,800 deaths attributed to fire/smoke inhalation, with a majority occurring in structural fires. This rate equates to one fire-related death approximately every 2 hours and 17 minutes​ (American Burn Association)​.

Hospitalization Details

• Severity of Hospitalizations: Of the total hospital admissions, 52.4% were for minor injuries not requiring surgical intervention. In contrast, 4.4% involved extensive burns requiring surgical treatment and prolonged mechanical ventilation, showing a notably higher mortality rate of 17.8%​ (American Burn Association)​.

• Demographics and Payment: Burn admissions showed a diverse demographic spread and a variety of payment methods, indicating widespread impact across different population segments and socioeconomic statuses. The primary payers included Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and uninsured patients​ (American Burn Association)​.

Economic Impact

• Burn Fatality Costs: Fatal burn and fire injuries cost roughly $3 billion, which accounts for two percent of the total cost of fatal injuries (Burn Injury Guide).

• Burn Hospitalization Costs: Burn and fire hospitalization accounts for $1 billion, or one percent of hospitalized injury costs (Burn Injury Guide).

• Burn Treatment Costs: Non-hospitalized burn and fire injuries account for two percent of non-hospitalized injury costs, or $3 billion (Burn Injury Guide).