很难确定电击伤的全球发生率;然而,大量区域性研究为我们提供了一些数据。根据加拿大卡尔加里地区保健组织的信息,1996 至 2002 年报道了 10 例严重电击伤(6 例死亡),年发生率为每百万人 2.4 例,死亡率为每百万人 1.4 例。所有患者都是男性。[3]Laupland KB, Kortbeek JB, Findlay C, et al. Population-based study of severe trauma due to electrocution in the Calgary Health Region, 1996-2002. Can J Surg. 2005;48:289-292.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3211532/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16149363?tool=bestpractice.com在土耳其迪亚巴克,1996—2002 年期间有 126 人死于电击。男性的发生率 (69.9%) 高于女性。[4]Tirasci Y, Goren S, Subasi M, et al. Electrocution-related mortality: a review of 123 deaths in Diyarbakir, Turkey between 1996 and 2002. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2006;208:141-145.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/208/2/208_2_141/_pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16434837?tool=bestpractice.com在尼日利亚埃努古烧伤中心,1995—2004 年期间出现了 24 例严重电击伤,男女比例为 4.8:1。[5]Opara KO, Chukwuanukwu TO, Ogbonnaya IS, et al. Pattern of severe electrical injuries in a Nigerian regional burn centre. Niger J Clin Pract. 2006;9:124-127.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17319343?tool=bestpractice.com在伊朗大不里士,一项对严重电烧伤患者超过 5 年的研究显示,在 202 例患者中,98% 是男性。[6]Maghsoudi H, Adyani Y, Ahmadian N. Electrical and lightning injuries. J Burn Care Res. 2007;28:255-261.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17351442?tool=bestpractice.com在伊朗设拉子,在电击伤重症患者中,95.3% 为男性。[7]Mohammadi AA, Amini M, Mehrabani D, et al. A survey on 30 months electrical burns in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Burn Hospital. Burns. 2008;34:111-113.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17618054?tool=bestpractice.com男性在所有研究中都占大多数,这充分说明了为职业相关性损伤提供有效预防措施的必要性。
在美国,电击伤的准确发生率尚不明;但是最近 10 年的现有电击伤数据显示,2015 年美国共出现 134 例致命性职业性电击伤,[8]US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. National census of fatal occupational injuries in 2015 (preliminary results). http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf (last accessed 2 June 2017).https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf2003 年至 2012 年共发生 24,100 例非致命性电击伤。[9]US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. National census of fatal occupational injuries in 2014 (preliminary results). http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf (last accessed 2 June 2017).http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf年龄小于 6 岁的儿童发生家庭相关电击伤的风险很高。[10]Baker MD, Chiaviello C. Household electrical injuries in children. Epidemiology and identification of avoidable hazards. Am J Dis Child. 1989;143:59-62.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2910046?tool=bestpractice.com男性多于女性,这很可能与建筑相关行业中男性占大多数有关。
美国每年大约有 49 例死亡与闪电有关。[11]National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service. Lightning fatalities 2016 by state. 2016. http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.shtml (last accessed 2 June 2017).http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities.shtml