Caustic injury-related hospitalisations in Queensland public acute hospitals: 01 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2023

Background

This report presents patterns and trends in caustic injury related hospitalisations in Queensland public acute hospitals over a six-year time-period from Jan 2018 to Dec 2023 covering the pre-pandemic (2018-2019), pandemic (2020) and post-pandemic (2021-23) years as part of an expanded surveillance and monitoring activity.

Key findings

Between 01 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2023 (6 years):

1,773 caustic injury-related hospitalisations occurred in Queensland public acute hospitals.
This equated to 3,728 days of inpatient care.
58% of cases were males.
0 – 4 years olds accounted for 15% of all caustic injury cases and 15% of inpatient days.
X49 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to other and unspecified chemicals and noxious substances was the most frequent external cause code (69%).

Key figures

Observed trends over time for caustic injury-related hospitalisations

Age and sex breakdown for caustic injury-related hospitalisations

Number of caustic injury-related hospitalisation episodes and associated patient bed days by age group and year
Age Group	2018		2019		2020		2021		2022		2023
Age Group	Episodes	Patient Days	Episodes	Patient Days	Episodes	Patient Days	Episodes	Patient Days	Episodes	Patient Days	Episodes	Patient Days
00 – 04	59	169	21	85	55	80	46	100	38	47	45	68
05 – 09	NP^	NP	7	11	5	6	7	7	NP	8	6	7
10 – 14	11	24	9	26	15	36	20	22	8	10	12	14
15 – 19	25	37	17	29	30	34	45	66	20	25	21	28
20 – 24	35	70	16	20	36	49	34	75	31	72	35	71
25 – 29	24	40	25	47	39	62	31	35	30	34	28	74
30 – 34	18	42	15	41	19	22	21	37	28	54	31	51
35 – 39	12	16	28	39	20	54	27	102	20	44	24	42
40 – 44	21	39	18	20	22	35	12	14	14	34	22	23
45 – 49	16	32	20	114	15	34	29	48	20	62	21	51
50 – 54	14	17	19	29	15	57	17	51	11	77	15	45
55 – 59	13	34	8	22	17	43	9	12	14	15	11	23
60 – 64	7	15	8	14	6	6	16	38	10	58	12	75
65 – 69	NP	NP	10	28	10	14	15	66	10	37	8	10
70 – 79	8	16	7	10	10	22	15	41	13	37	19	66
80+	NP	NP	5	27	NP	NP	9	13	9	15	9	44

^Not publishable due to the low number of cases.

Top 10 principal diagnoses for caustic injury-related hospitalisations
Principal Diagnosis		Episodes	Patient Days
T549	Toxic effect of corrosive substance, unspecified	282	481
T261	Burn of cornea and conjunctival sac	212	357
T543	Toxic effect of corrosive alkalis and alkali-like substances	114	253
T264	Burn of eye and adnexa, part unspecified	111	117
T55	Toxic effect of soaps and detergents	108	129
T280	Burn of mouth and pharynx	54	110
T253	Burn of third degree of ankle and foot	52	222
T281	Burn of oesophagus	47	388
T243	Burn of third degree of hip and lower limb, except ankle and foot	43	217
T242	Burn of second degree of hip and lower limb, except ankle and foot	43	127

Body region and nature of injury for caustic injury-related hospitalisations
Body Region	Burn or Corrosion	Overdoses, Poisoning or Toxic Effects	Wounds and Superficial Injuries	Multiple, Other and Unspecified Injuries
Head and Neck	573	0	86	93
Trunk	62	0	18	6
Upper limb	146	0	73	NP^
Lower limb	178	0	16	0
Systemic	0	507	0	0
Multiple body regions	NP^	0	0	0
Unspecified body region	7	0	0	0

^Not publishable due to the low number of cases.

Note: body regions and nature of injury was assigned using J-MAX

Number of caustic injury-related hospitalisations by hospital and Health Service of facility providing acute care

Please refer to Hospital and Health Services by recognised public hospitals and primary health centres for a map of specific hospitals and health services facilities.

Mode of separation for caustic injury-related hospitalisations
Mode of Separation	Episodes	Patient Days
Home/usual residence	1,433	2,892
Transfer to another hospital	162	302
Correctional facility	61	154
Episode change	59	263
Discharged at own risk	39	53
Died in hospital	5	21
Other	14	43

About us

The Jamieson Trauma Institute (JTI) connects clinicians, researchers, government and industry partners striving to advance trauma prevention, research and clinical management, to deliver the best possible care for people who experience traumatic injury. JTI is funded via a partnership between the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Metro North Health and Queensland University of Technology.

General enquiries: Jamieson_trauma_institute@health.qld.gov.au

Data scope and definitions

This overview was produced by the Jamieson Trauma Institute, in consultation with the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit and the Statistical Services Branch, Queensland Health using Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection (QHAPDC) (derived subset of data tables comprising injury related hospital admissions from all Queensland public acute hospitals excluding Mater South Brisbane Hospitals).

Data Scope

Includes episodes of admitted patient care with separation date between 01 Jan 2018 & 31 Dec 2023.
Caustic injury-related hospitalisation is defined by selected ICD-10-AM principal diagnosis related to “caustic injury” with external cause codes X49, X69 and X83.
Care Type = Acute.
This overview presents raw counts, not age standardised rates, as data relate to episodes of care and not individual patients.

Report prepared by:

Shahera Banu

Data Analyst

Shahera.Banu@health.qld.gov.au

Genevieve Westacott

Health Information Manager

Genevieve.Westacott@health.qld.gov.au