Hospitalized burns in Finland: 36305 cases from 1980-2010

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.