Consumer products and hospitalized burn injuries among elderly Massachusetts residents

This study is based on data for Massachusetts residents who were burned between July 1, 1978 and June 30, 1979 and who were treated as hospital inpatients in any of the 240 hospitals participating in the New England Regional Burn Program. Demographic information and information regarding the nature of the burn injury and consumer products involved were obtained by review of the medical record for each case. One hundred seven (9%) of the 1237 burn victims identified were aged 65 years or older, yielding a burn incidence rate equal to 15.5 burns per 100,000 person-years compared with a rate of 23.8 burns per 100,000 person-years for younger Massachusetts residents. The burn mortality rate for the elderly who survived long enough to be hospitalized was 2.6 deaths per 100,000 person-years compared with a rate of 0.4 deaths per 100,000 person-years for younger individuals. For survivors, the average length of hospital stay for elderly victims was 28.6 days compared with 12.0 days for younger individuals. Clothing ignition, stoves and ovens, smoking materials, and bathroom showers and tubs contributed significantly to the causes of burning among the elderly. In addition, evidence was found suggesting that elderly patients receive medical care relatively later after injury, thus considerably complicating their illness.