Hospitalized burns in Finland: 36 305 cases from 1980–2010

Abstract

To analyse the epidemiology of burns in Finland, a comprehensive study was conducted among all hospitalized burn patients between 1980 and 2010. All patients with burn injury as the main diagnosis, 36305 cases in total, treated in the public and private sectors, were included. Patient data were obtained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (FHDR). The incidence of hospitalized injuries declined from over 30 to 17 per 100000 persons. Men were at higher risk than women in all age groups. Children aged under ten years were overrepresented throughout the period and the highest incidence was found among one year old boys. The median total length of stay shortened from seven days in 1980-1995 to five days in 1996-2010. The annual number of hospitalized patients is recently under 1000 cases (17/100000). The male predominance (70%) did not change but the age group with the most injuries shifted from 20-39 years to 40-59 years. Injuries were most common during the summer months. This study of all hospitalized burn injuries of one entire country shows similar tendency of diminishing numbers and rising age of burn victims as in other western countries. The FHDR is a reliable source of data in epidemiological studies but precise recording of E- and N-codes in the registry would enable the accurate analysis of types and extent of injury.

Trends in burn injuries in Galicia (Spain): An epidemiological study

“…This finding contrasts with most studies carried out in Western countries, in which the ratio of men to women is usually greater than 1, as in Australia (2.8) or Finland (2.3). Nevertheless, in Southern European countries, the ratio is generally found to be closer to the data found in our study, for example in Italy (1.47), Bulgaria (1.41), or Portugal (1.38) 7‐11 . This fact could be related to differences in the type of work performed by males there, predominantly risk‐related and heavy industrial jobs.…”

“…The ALOS was 15.5 days, longer than that recorded in other countries such as Norway (11.3 days) 14 and Finland (12.4 days), 8 but shorter than that found in others, such as Portugal (16 days), 11 Germany (18.8 days), 15 or Italy (22 days) 9 . Age seems to have a clear influence on the characteristics, frequency, and severity of the burns.…”

“…Nevertheless, in Southern European countries, the ratio is generally found to be closer to the data found in our study, for example in Italy (1.47), Bulgaria (1.41), or Portugal (1.38). [7][8][9][10][11] This fact could be related to differences in the type of work performed by males there, predominantly risk-related and heavy industrial jobs. On the other hand, we found a ratio lower than 1 in countries such as South Korea (0.64) or the Lebanon (0.75).…”

Epidemiology of burn patients admitted in the Netherlands: a nationwide registry study investigating incidence rates and hospital admission from 2014 to 2018

“…Nordic countries, whom are similar to the Netherlands in many ways, show much higher incidence rates than those in our study. In Finland, Sweden, and Norway, incidence rates of 17.0, 15.5, and 12.4 per 100,000 inhabitants were found [ 13 – 15 ]. This might be explained by differences in health care system, climate, demography, and culture.…”

Occupational burn injuries in Finland 2011–2015

“…Several earlier studies have shown that men are at the highest risk of both occupational accidents and burn injuries (Mian et al 2011 ; Reichard et al 2015 ; Hansen 2019 ; Hanvold et al 2019 ; Tanttula et al 2018 ). Our data showed different results: The gender distribution in the FWCC register was almost even (men 54%) but men dominated (25/26 cases) in the NBC data.…”