Dataset Information

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study.

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

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Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study.

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]

PMID: 35501165

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Project description:ImportanceIn the US, the COVID-19 pandemic intensified some conditions that may contribute to firearm violence, and a recent surge in firearm sales during the pandemic has been reported. However, patterns of change in firearm violence in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US remain unclear.ObjectiveTo quantify the changes in interpersonal firearm violence associated with the pandemic across all 50 US states and the District of Columbia.Design, setting, and participantsThis population-based cross-sectional study examined 50 US states and the District of Columbia from January 1, 2016, to February 28, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic period was defined as between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed from April to December 2021.Main outcomes and measuresA 2-stage interrupted time-series design was used to examine the excess burden of firearm-related incidents, nonfatal injuries, and deaths associated with the pandemic while accounting for long-term trends and seasonality. In the first stage, separate quasi-Poisson regression models were fit to the daily number of firearm events in each state. In the second stage, estimates were pooled using a multivariate meta-analysis.ResultsIn the US (all 50 states and the District of Columbia) during the pandemic period of March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, there were 62 485 identified firearm-related incidents, 40 021 firearm-related nonfatal injuries, and 19 818 firearm-related deaths. The pandemic period was associated with 8138 (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI], 2769-12 948) excess incidents (increase of 15.0% [95% eCI, 4.6%-26.1%]), 10 222 (95% eCI, 8284-11 650) excess nonfatal injuries (increase of 34.3% [95% eCI, 26.1%-41.1%]), and 4381 (95% eCI, 2262-6264) excess deaths (increase of 28.4% [95% eCI, 12.9%-46.2%]). The increase in firearm-related violence was more pronounced from June to October 2020 and in Minnesota and New York State.Conclusions and relevanceIn the US, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an excess burden of firearm-related incidents, nonfatal injuries, and deaths, with substantial temporal and spatial variations.

Dataset Information

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study.

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