Stove-related injuries treated in EDs in the United States, 1990-2010

Background Household stoves are a common source of injury in the United States. Purpose To investigate the epidemiology of stove-related injuries. Methods The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was used to analyze cases of nonfatal stove-related injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments (EDs) from 1990 through 2010. Results An estimated 910 696 (95% CI, 789 279-1 032 113) individuals were treated for stove-related injuries during the 21-year study period, yielding an average of 43 366 injured persons annually or 5 injuries every hour. The number (m = - 252.85; P =.033) and rate (m = - 0.026; P <.001) of injured individuals significantly decreased during the study. Injuries were highest in 1991 (50 656 cases; 2.0 per 10 000) and lowest in 2005 (38 669 cases; 1.31 per 10 000), although there was an increase in 2010 (48 990 cases; 1.58 per 10 000). Patients ≤ 19 years experienced 41.3% of stove-related injuries. The primary mechanism of injury was contact with stove parts (37.5%). The body region most commonly injured was the hand (44.6%), and a thermal burn was the most common diagnosis (51.8%). The majority (94.4%) of patients were treated and released from the ED. Patients > 60 years of age were 3.85 (95% CI, 2.97-4.98) times more likely to be admitted to the hospital than younger patients. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive study of stove-related injuries in the United States using a nationally representative sample. Strategies to prevent stove-related injuries should address the multiple mechanisms of injury.