Dataset Information

Evaluation of Injury Severity and Resource Utilization in Pediatric Firearm and Sharp Force Injuries.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Pediatric firearm injuries are a serious and growing public health problem, constituting the second leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States. Firearm injuries have a high case fatality, but knowledge is limited to date regarding their injury severity and health care utilization burden compared with those of other penetrating injuries, especially among children with critical injury.

Objective

To describe and compare the resource utilization, injury severity, and short-term clinical outcomes associated with pediatric firearm injuries and other penetrating trauma.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Trauma Data Bank, an encounter-level registry of trauma data in the United States, from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016. Encounters for firearm injury (n?=?25?155) or cut or pierce injury (21?270) in children 17 years or younger were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted from July 15, 2018, to June 5, 2019.

Exposures

Firearm injury compared with cut or pierce injury encounters.

Main outcomes and measures

Intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS).

Results

A total of 25?155 firearm injury encounters and 21?270 cut or pierce injury encounters were analyzed. Most firearm and cut or pierce injuries occurred among boys (21?573 [85.8%] and 15?864 [74.6%]) and adolescents aged 15 to 17 years (18 807 [74.8%] and 10?895 [51.2%]). A greater proportion of those with firearm injuries were African American children compared with those with cut or pierce injuries (15?019 [61.3%] vs 6397 [31.2%]). A greater proportion of those with firearm injuries compared with cut or pierce injuries were admitted to the ICU (7682 [30.5%] vs 2712 [12.8%]). Compared with cut or pierce injuries, firearm injuries were associated with a higher mean (SD) ISS (4.6 [6.8] vs 10.9 [12.7] points), longer mean (SD) hospital LOS (2.8 [4.1] vs 5.0 [8.4] days), and longer mean (SD) ICU LOS (3.1 [4.5] vs 5.1 [7.7] days). Firearm injuries accounted for 126?027 hospital days and 39?255 ICU days, whereas cut or pierce injuries accounted for 58?705 hospital days and 8353 ICU days. After adjustments for age, sex, year, and hospital, those with firearm injuries were more likely to require ICU admission (relative risk [RR], 2.3; 95% CI, 2.1-2.5; P?Conclusions and relevanceThis study found that pediatric firearm injuries were associated with greater severity and health care utilization compared with penetrating trauma from other mechanisms, suggesting that the mechanism of injury is an important consideration in penetrating sharp force trauma in children and adolescents. Public health measures, legislative efforts, and safe storage practices are among the interventions needed to reduce pediatric firearm injuries.

SUBMITTER: Wolf AE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6802232 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Evaluation of Injury Severity and Resource Utilization in Pediatric Firearm and Sharp Force Injuries.

Wolf Ashley E AE Garrison Michelle M MM Mills Brianna B Chan Titus T Rowhani-Rahbar Ali A

JAMA network open 20191002 10

<h4>Importance</h4>Pediatric firearm injuries are a serious and growing public health problem, constituting the second leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States. Firearm injuries have a high case fatality, but knowledge is limited to date regarding their injury severity and health care utilization burden compared with those of other penetrating injuries, especially among children with critical injury.<h4>Objective</h4>To describe and compare the resource utilization ...[more]

PMID: 31596492

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundFirearm-related injuries (FRI) are an increasing cause of death and injury in children. The etiology for this rise is multifactorial and includes socioeconomic factors. Despite its prevalence and documented increase over COVID-19, there is a paucity of research on disparities and the influence of social determinants of health (SDH) in pediatric FRI. This study aims to explore the epidemiology of this vulnerable population in Atlanta, trends over time and relevant dates such as COVID-19 and a state firearm law, and disparities in clinical outcomes.MethodsRetrospective cohort of patients with FRI (0-20 years-old, x̄=9.8, Median = 11) presenting to our hospital EDs from January 2014 to April 2023 (N = 701) and eligible for the Trauma Registry. This period includes two major events, namely the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020), and passage of state law Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) (April 2022), allowing for permit-less concealed firearm carry. Single series interrupted time series (ITS) models were run and clinical outcome differences between race and insurance groups were calculated unadjusted and adjusted for confounders using inverse propensity treatment weights (IPTW). The primary outcome was mortality; secondary are admission and discharge.ResultsMajority of FRI involved patients who were male (76.7%), Black (74.9%), publicly insured (82.6%), ≤12 years-old (61.8%), and injured by unintentional shootings (45.6%) or assault (43.7%). During COVID-19, there was a sustained increase in FRI rate by 0.42 patients per 1,000 trauma visits per month (95% CI 0.02-0.82, p = 0.042); post-SB 319 it was 2.3 patients per 1,000 trauma visits per month (95% CI 0.23-4.31, p = 0.029). Publicly insured patients had 58% lower odds of mortality than privately insured patients (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.18-0.99, p = 0.047). When controlled for race and mechanism of injury, among other confounding factors, this association was not significant (p = 0.652).ConclusionPediatric FRI are increasing over time, with disproportionate burdens on Black patients, at our hospitals. Disparities in mortality based on insurance necessitate further study. As social and economic repercussions of COVID-19 are still present, and state firearm law SB 319 is still in effect, assessment of ongoing trends is warranted to inform preventative strategies.

Project description:ImportanceFirearm injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among US children and adolescents. Despite evidence demonstrating mental health sequelae for children and adolescents who have experienced a firearm injury, little is known about mental health care utilization after a firearm injury.ObjectiveTo evaluate mental health care utilization in the 12 months after a firearm injury among Medicaid-insured and commercially insured children and adolescents compared with propensity score-matched controls.Design, setting, and participantsThis propensity score-matched retrospective cohort analysis assessed 2127 children and adolescents, aged 0 to 17 years, with a firearm injury that occurred between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017, compared with 2127 matched controls using MarketScan Medicaid and commercial claims data. Claims data were analyzed 12 months before and after injury, with the total study period spanning from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018.ExposureNonfatal firearm injury.Main outcomes and measuresThe primary outcome of interest was a dichotomous variable representing any mental health care utilization in the 12 months after injury. Secondary outcomes included psychotherapy utilization, substance use-related utilization, and a psychotropic medication prescription. Logistic regression modeling was used to estimate relative risks with adjusted analyses of dichotomous outcomes.ResultsThe overall cohort consisted of 4254 children and adolescents, of whom 2127 (mean [SD] age, 13.5 [4.1] years; 1722 [81.0%] male) had an initial encounter for a firearm injury and an equal number of matched controls (mean [SD] age, 13.5 [4.1] years; 1720 [80.9%] male). Children and adolescents with a firearm injury had a 1.40 times greater risk (95% CI, 1.25-1.56; P < .001) of utilizing mental health services in the 12 months after their injury compared with children and adolescents without a firearm injury, after controlling for potential confounders. Children and adolescents with a firearm injury had a 1.23 times greater risk (95% CI, 1.06-1.43; P = .007) of utilizing psychotherapy and a 1.40 times greater risk (95% CI, 1.19-1.64; P < .001) of substance use-related utilization. Among those who experienced a firearm injury, Black children and adolescents were 1.64 times more likely (95% CI, 1.23-2.19; P < .001) to utilize mental health care compared with White children and adolescents.Conclusions and relevanceThis propensity score-matched cohort study found that children and adolescents with a firearm injury had a greater risk of utilizing mental health services in the 12 months after their injury compared with those without an injury, and significant racial disparities were associated with use of mental health services. The findings suggest that health care practitioners should be aware of this increased risk and ensure adequate mental health follow-up for these patients.

Project description:Little is known about the healthcare and economic burdens of non-fatal firearm injuries for children/youth beyond the initial admission. This study sought to estimate healthcare utilization and total direct healthcare costs of non-fatal powdered and non-powdered (air gun) firearm injuries 1-year post-injury. Using administrative data from 2003 to 2018 on all children/youth 0-24 years old in Ontario, Canada, a matched 1:2 cohort study was conducted to compare children/youth who experienced powdered and non-powdered firearm injuries with those who did not. Mean and median number of healthcare encounters and costs, and respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and interquartile ranges (IQRs), were estimated for both weapon type groups and controls and by intent. Children/youth who experienced a powdered and non-powdered firearm injury had a higher number of healthcare encounters and costs per year than those who did not. Mean 1-year costs for those with powdered and non-powdered firearm injuries were $8825 ($8007-$9643) and $2349 ($2118-$2578), respectively, versus $812 ($567-$1058) and $753 ($594-$911), respectively, for those without. Mean 1-year costs were highest for handgun injuries ($12,875 [95% CI $9941-$15,808]), and for intentional assault-related ($13,498 [$11,843-$15,153]; $3287 [$2213-$4362]), and intentional self-injuries ($14,773 [$6893-$22,652]; $6005 [$2193-$9817]) for both powdered and non-powdered firearm injuries, respectively. Conclusion: Firearm injuries have substantial healthcare and economic burdens beyond the initial injury-related admission; this should be accounted for when examining the overall impact of firearm injuries. What is Known: • Child/youth firearm injuries have significant health and economic burdens. • However, existing work has mainly examined healthcare utilization and costs of initial admissions and/or have been limited to single-center studies and no studies have provide cost estimates by weapon type and intent. What is New: • Children/youth who suffered powdered firearm injuries had higher mean healthcare utilization and costs than those with non-powdered firearm injuries as well as comparable healthy children/youth. • Mean 1-year costs were highest for handgun injuries ($12,875), and for intentional assault-related ($13,498; $3287), and intentional self-injuries ($14,773; $6005) for powdered and non-powdered firearm injuries, respectively.

Dataset Information

Evaluation of Injury Severity and Resource Utilization in Pediatric Firearm and Sharp Force Injuries.

Importance

Objective

Design, setting, and participants

Exposures

Main outcomes and measures

Results

Publications

Evaluation of Injury Severity and Resource Utilization in Pediatric Firearm and Sharp Force Injuries.

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