Why is Burn Research Important?
The tremendous toll of burn injuries
May 5, 2024
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).