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ABSTRACT: Background
Firearm sales in the United States (U.S.) markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to determine if firearm injuries in children were associated with stay-at-home orders (SHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized there would be an increase in pediatric firearm injuries during SHO.Methods
This was a multi institutional, retrospective study of institutional trauma registries. Patients <18 years with traumatic injuries meeting National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) criteria were included. A "COVID" cohort, defined as time from initiation of state SHO through September 30, 2020 was compared to "Historical" controls from an averaged period of corresponding dates in 2016-2019. An interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was utilized to evaluate the association of the U.S. declaration of a national state of emergency with pediatric firearm injuries.Results
Nine Level I pediatric trauma centers were included, contributing 48,111 pediatric trauma patients, of which 1,090 patients (2.3%) suffered firearm injuries. There was a significant increase in the proportion of firearm injuries in the COVID cohort (COVID 3.04% vs. Historical 1.83%; p < 0.001). There was an increased cumulative burden of firearm injuries in 2020 compared to a historical average. ITSA showed an 87% increase in the observed rate of firearm injuries above expected after the declaration of a nationwide emergency (p < 0.001).Conclusion
The proportion of firearm injuries affecting children increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic was associated with an increase in pediatric firearm injuries above expected rates based on historical patterns.
SUBMITTER: Collings AT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9001175 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Collings Amelia T AT Farazi Manzur M Van Arendonk Kyle J KJ Fallat Mary E ME Minneci Peter C PC Sato Thomas T TT Speck K Elizabeth KE Deans Katherine J KJ Falcone Richard A RA Foley David S DS Fraser Jason D JD Gadepalli Samir K SK Keller Martin S MS Kotagal Meera M Landman Matthew P MP Leys Charles M CM Markel Troy A TA Rubalcava Nathan N St Peter Shawn D SD Flynn-O'Brien Katherine T KT
Journal of pediatric surgery 20220412 7
<h4>Background</h4>Firearm sales in the United States (U.S.) markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to determine if firearm injuries in children were associated with stay-at-home orders (SHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized there would be an increase in pediatric firearm injuries during SHO.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a multi institutional, retrospective study of institutional trauma registries. Patients <18 years with traumatic injuries meeting National Tr ...[more]