Epidemiology of Burn Injury Among People Experiencing Homelessness: A Scoping Review
摘要
Homelessness is a rapidly escalating crisis. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face intersecting social and health vulnerabilities that increase their risk of burn injury and complicate recovery. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on burn injuries among PEH and contrasts their epidemiology with domiciled people (DP) to inform prevention and health system strengthening.
Recent FindingsWe conducted a scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework and reported according to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. Systematic searches were performed in seven bibliographic databases to identify literature published between 1990 and 2025. A narrative synthesis was completed to characterize the risks and incidence of burn injuries among PEH, describe their injury patterns, recovery and rehabilitation, and compare with DP. The search and analysis were completed in 2025.Thirty-seven reports were analyzed. Within the U.S., PEH were more often male, of White or Black race, had histories of substance use and mental illness, and were more likely to sustain injuries from fire, assault and selfimmolation compared to DP. West Coast data suggested larger burn sizes among PEH compared to DP, whereas national and other regional data reported no differences. Compared to DP, PEH experienced longer hospitalizations, incurred higher charges, were more likely to leave against medical advice, and were less likely to receive follow-up care. No consistent differences were found in rates of inhalation injury, amputations, inpatient complications, or mortality.
SummaryDeveloping effective burn prevention strategies and strengthening burn care for PEH requires recognizing their unique injury patterns, care needs, and recovery challenges. Our findings emphasize the importance of targeted prevention and integrated trauma-informed care pathways that address both burn management and social and behavioral health needs.