目標：瞭解臺灣地區燒燙傷的發生率、盛行率及死亡率之趨勢，以及不同嚴重程度燒燙傷的分布情況，評估燒燙傷防制及病患照護的整體成效。方法：利用衛生署生命統計及健保資料(醫事機構病床主檔、重大傷病證明明細檔、住院醫療費用清單明細檔、門診處方及治療明細檔)，分析81～90年燒燙傷的死亡趨勢，以及85～90年燒燙傷的門診、住院及重大傷病情況。結果：十年間，整體燒燙傷的死亡率下降54.23%，且以火焰傷的下降幅度最大。六年間，重大燒燙傷發生率下降28.76%；燒燙傷住院盛行率下降8.17%，發生率下降6.75%，住院死亡比例下降18.18%；90年燒燙傷門診盛行率及發生率分別是85年的59倍及42倍。燒燙傷呈金字塔型分布(死亡：重大燒燙傷：住院：門診＝1：1.7：21.3：174.7)，並由瘦型趨向胖型發展。結論：燒燙傷的死亡率、重大燒燙傷率及住院率逐年下降；而門診率則呈現上升趨勢。整體的燒燙傷防制及病患照護已獲致一定成效。往後必須加以關注的重點在於為數眾多的輕度燒燙傷的預防。

　　　　　Objectives: The aims of this study were to describe the trends of incidence rate and mortality rate of burn injuries over a long period of time, and to understand the characteristics of the distributions for different severity levels of burns. The effect of prevention programs and medical care for burns was also evaluated. Methods: By using 1992-2001 Health and Vital Statistics data and the 1996-2001 National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database, we counted the numbers of death and causes of burns. We aslo calculated the incidence rate of catastrophic, hospitalized and ambulatory burn injuries. Results: From 1992 to 2001, the overall mortality rate of burn injuries in Taiwan decreased by 54.23%. The mortality rate from flame burns decreased the most. The incidence rate of catastrophic and hospitalized burns decreased by 28.76% and 6.75%, respectively. However, the ambulatory burns increased by 42 times over a 6-year period between 1996-2001. The percentage of hospitalized burn deaths decreased by 18.18%. The proportions of different severity levels of burns (dead: catastrophic: hospitalized: ambulatory= 1: 1.7: 21.3: 174.7) consisted of different shaped pyramids. These shapes became wider over time. Conclusions: The overall mortality rate of burn injuries and incidence rate of catastrophic and hospitalized burns showed a decreasing trend, whereas, the incidence rate of ambulatory burns showed an increasing trend. The overall prevention and medical care for burns displayed some effect. In the future, attention should be paid to the prevention of minor burns, which cause a great deal of ambulatory care.