Epidemiology of Burns in Korea.
- Author:
Dong Chul KIM
1
;
Dae Seung NA
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. medicalinternet@yahoo.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Burn;
Epidemiology;
Korea
- MeSH:
Burns;
Epidemiologic Studies;
Female;
Foot;
Hand;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea;
Lower Extremity;
Male;
National Health Programs;
Respiratory System;
Sex Distribution;
Sex Ratio;
Transportation;
Upper Extremity
- From:Journal of Korean Burn Society
2011;14(1):6-11
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The burns are one of the most devastating trauma. The epidemiological study for the national burn incidence is necessary to establish the national medical plan for providing the proper specialized burn care for these burn victims, burn prevention and burn safety for publics. METHODS: This study is done based on the burn patients data from the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation in 2005~2009 for the review of following issues; the average annual burn incidence, and tendency of burn occurrence in every year, sex distribution of burn patients, the yearly numbers of pediatric burn patients, incidence of specific-age pediatric burn patients, incidence of burns by specific-age group, and prevalent sites of burns. RESULTS: 1) The average annual burn patient is 472,404 in 2005~2009. The average annual incidence of burn patients per 100,000 population is 984. The total annual numbers of burn patient is gradually increasing in tendency. 2) Male and female sex ratio is 57 (mean 270,791 male burn patients per year): 43 (mean 201,613 female burn patients per year). 3) The average pediatric burn patient (1~15 age) is 138,153 and it consists of 29.3% of the average annual burn patients during 2005~2009. 4) The most prevalent age of pediatric burns reveals between 1~2 years old age (23.8%). The incidence of burn patients of 1~3 age occupy 42% of the total pediatric burn patients. 5) The four age group-specific burn incidence are pediatric group (0~15 age) 29.3% (138,153 patients), adolescence-middle age group (16~39 age) 32.1% (151,384 patients), middle-old age group (40~74 age) 36.3% (171,688 patients), super old age group (over 75) 2.3% (11,179 patients). 6) The most prevalent site of burns is hand (29%), and followed by foot (10.7%), lower extremities (10.6%), upper extremities (10.1%), face (7.1%), trunk (6.1%). the combined area etc. (26.2%), respiratory tract (0.2%). CONCLUSION: Based on the data from the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation, the average annual burn incidence is over 472,400 burn patients during 2005~2009 in Korea, and reveals increasing tendency. This epidemiological data could be attribute to providing the specialized burn care to domestic burn victims, and to establish the plans for burn prediction and prevention, burn safety, burn patient transportation, and the measures for mass burn patients.
