Electrical Burn Injuries in the United States: Recent Demographic, Clinical, and Regional Patterns from the BCQP...

Electrical injuries represent a small proportion of burn admissions but are associated with substantial morbidity. Prior studies suggest demographic and regional disparities in burn injury incidence and outcomes. This study aimed to compare electrical vs nonelectrical burn injuries and assess regional differences in patient and burn characteristics and outcomes using the American Burn Association's Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP). We conducted a retrospective cohort study using adult admissions from 2020 to 2022 to compare electrical to other types of burns. Outcomes included length of stay, mortality, discharge disposition, and insurance status. Regional analyses were based on the 5 ABA regions in the United States. Statistical comparisons used multivariate analyses, including propensity score matching. Of a total of 63 269 patients, 2042 (3.3%) sustained electrical injuries. These patients were younger (mean age 40), predominantly male (92.2%), more likely to be injured at work (61.9%) and disproportionately Hispanic/Latino (21.9%). In the Southern region, electrical injuries resulted in significantly shorter median hospital stays than nonelectrical injuries (2 vs 3 days, P < .0001) and shorter ICU stays (3 vs 4 days, P ≤ .001). Mortality was consistently lower among electrical injury patients (2.2% vs 3.7%, P ≤ .012). A total of 52.7% of patients in the sample were treated in the Southern region, which also had the highest rate of electrical injuries in the country. The ABA Southern region bears a disproportionate burden, particularly among Hispanic/Latino and uninsured patients. These findings highlight the need for region-specific prevention, improved safety training, and equitable access to care.