Between 2017 and 2018, there were 2459 emergency department attendances due to electric shock in the English National Health Service.[3]NHS. Hospital accident and emergency activity, 2017-18. Table 18: Number of A&E attendances, A&E primary diagnosis '2 character description field' 2016-17 and 2017-18 (HES)
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activity/2017-18
Regional data provide an insight into the global prevalence of electrical injury. In the Calgary Health Region of Canada, 10 cases of severe electrical injury were reported between 1996 and 2002, resulting in an annual incidence of 2.4 per 1 million population.[4]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 Aug;48(4):289-92.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3211532/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16149363?tool=bestpractice.com
All patients were male; six died due to severe electrical trauma, giving rise to a death rate of 1.4 per 1 million population.[4]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 Aug;48(4):289-92.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3211532/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16149363?tool=bestpractice.com
In Diyabakir, Turkey, 126 deaths due to electrocution were reported between 1996 and 2002. Males (69.9%) were more commonly affected than females.[5]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/_pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16434837?tool=bestpractice.com
In a burn centre in Enugu, Nigeria, 24 patients presented with severe electrical injuries between 1995 and 2004, with a male to female ratio of 4.8:1.[6]Opara KO, Chukwuanukwu TO, Ogbonnaya IS, et al. Pattern of severe electrical injuries in a Nigerian regional burn centre. Niger J Clin Pract. 2006 Dec;9(2):124-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17319343?tool=bestpractice.com
In Tabriz, Iran, a study of patients presenting with severe electrical burns over a 5-year period found that 98% of the 202 patients admitted were male.[7]Maghsoudi H, Adyani Y, Ahmadian N. Electrical and lightning injuries. J Burn Care Res. 2007 Mar-Apr;28(2):255-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17351442?tool=bestpractice.com
In Shiraz, Iran, 95.3% of patients with severe electrical injury were male.[8]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 Feb;34(1):111-3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17618054?tool=bestpractice.com
The male predominance in all studies highlights the need for effective prevention strategies in occupational-related injuries.
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