To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of burn inpatients in Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from 2021 to 2023， in order to provide reference for prevention and treatment of burns in Qinghai region.

The data of 1 012 burn inpatients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair， Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from 2021 to 2023 were collected. Data of the patients， such as age， gender， nation， cause of the injury， burn severity， and burn site were collected and analyzed to characterize the epidemiological profile of burn inpatients.

Among the 1 012 patients， there were 684 males and 328 females， with a ratio of 2.09∶1. The main cause of injury was hydrothermal scald （551 cases， 54.45%）， followed by flame burns （235 cases，23.22%）， electrical burns （109 cases，10.77%）， chemical burns （59 cases，5.83%）， and other burns （58 cases，5.73%）. The majority of patients were from rural areas （699 cases，69.07%）. Effective initial management was implemented in 229 cases （22.63%）， 69.76% of burns occurred at home. The severity of burns was mainly moderate （551 cases，54.45%）. Flame burns were the main cause of extremely severe burns， whereas hydrothermal scald accounted for a higher proportion of severe burns. The seasonal distribution was not obvious， with a relatively higher number of patients admitted in summer， accounting for 28.75%. The age range of patients was 6 months to 84 years. Among the 337 cases in the infant and toddler group， the primary cause of injury was hydrothermal scald， accounting for 91.99% （310/337）. In the school-age group of 45 cases， the main causes were hydrothermal scald and flame burns， accounting for 44.44% （20/45） and 37.78% （17/45）， respectively. The adolescent group of 168 cases was predominantly affected by hydrothermal scald and flame burns， making up 33.33% （56/168）. In the middle-aged group of 417 cases， hydrothermal scald and flame burns were also the leading causes， accounting for 33.57% （140/417） and 33.33% （139/417）， respectively. Among the 45 cases in the elderly group， hydrothermal scald and other burns were the primary causes， representing 55.56% （25/45） and 26.67% （12/45）， respectively. Han patients accounted for 56.82% (575/1 012), while ethnic minority patients accounted for 43.18% (437/1 012）. A total of 2 170 burn sites were recorded among 1 012 patients， with variations observed across different age groups. Infants and toddlers predominantly sustained burns on limbs or torso， school-aged children frequently experienced injuries to limbs or face， while adolescents commonly suffered burns on upper limbs or face. Middle-aged individuals were more likely to sustain burns on the face， neck， limbs， and torso， whereas elderly patients predominantly had burns on lower limbs.

The primary cause of burns in Qinghai region is hydrothermal scald， with no distinct seasonal pattern. Most affected patients reside in rural areas， and ethnic minority patients account for a relatively high proportion.