Firearm violence in the USA: a frank discussion on an American public health crisis-The Kansas City Firearm Violence Symposium

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Violent Penetrating Injuries and Long-Term Adverse Outcomes

Violent injury is known to be a chronic, recurrent issue, with high rates of recidivism following initial injury. While the burden of violence is disproportionately felt among young Black men and in communities of color, examination of distinct risk factors and long-term outcomes for other racial and ethnic groups could lead to improved violence intervention strategies. In this study, we examined the risk of violent penetrating injury and long-term adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity. This retrospective study was performed using a cohort of patients presenting to the Boston Medical Center emergency department for a violent penetrating injury between 2006 and 2016. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for the risk of all-cause mortality and violent re-injury at one and 3 years after surviving a penetrating injury.Of the 4191 victims of violent injury, 12% were White, 18% were Hispanic, and the remaining 70% self-identified as Black. Within 3 years after initial injury, Black patients were at the greatest risk of all-cause violent re-injury (vs. Hispanic: HR = 1.46, 95%CI[1.15,1.85], p = 0.002; vs. White: HR = 1.89, 95%CI[1.40,2.57], p < 0.0001), particularly by gunshot wound (vs. Hispanic: HR = 2.04, 95%CI[1.29,3.22] p = 0.002; vs. White: HR = 2.34, 95%CI[1.19,4.60], p = 0.01). At 3-years following initial injury, White patients were at 2.03 times the risk for all-cause mortality, likely due to a 4.96 times greater risk of death by drug or alcohol overdose for White patients compared to Black patients (HR = 4.96, 95%CI[2.25,10.96], p < 0.0001). In conclusion, Black survivors of violent injury have a significantly higher risk of violent re-injury, particularly by gun violence, while White patients are at the highest risk for mortality due to the incidence of drug and alcohol overdose. Violence intervention programs with similar patient populations should explore options to collaborate with drug treatment programs to reach this vulnerable population.

An Epidemic Amidst a Pandemic: Musculoskeletal Firearm Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted the delivery of health care, both through direct care associated with COVID-19 and through more pervasive effects. Our goal was to evaluate whether the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries differed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same period in prior years. We hypothesized that the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with the same period in prior years, would have a higher number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries and a lower rate of outpatient follow-up after consultations.

METHODS

A prospectively collected database of orthopaedic trauma consultations at a level-I trauma center was queried for firearm injuries. We compared the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injury during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 23, 2020, to September 30, 2020, referred to as the pandemic group) with identical dates from 2017 to 2019 (referred to as the pre-pandemic group). Outpatient follow-up rates, ZIP codes (and associated Area Deprivation Index), and demographic data were compared between the pandemic group and the pre-pandemic group.

RESULTS

During the entire study period, 552 orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries were identified. There was a 63% increase in the daily mean number of firearm injury consultations in the pandemic group, to 1.01, compared with the pre-pandemic group, 0.62 (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the rate of outpatient follow-up: 66% for the pandemic group and 72% for the pre-pandemic group. There was no difference in the percentage of patients from the most socially deprived decile: 45.3% in the pandemic group and 49.5% in the pre-pandemic group. Patients presenting during the pandemic were more often uninsured (75.8%) relative to the pre-pandemic group (67.9%), with a lack of health insurance significantly decreasing the likelihood of outpatient follow-up (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the same period in prior years, there was a significant increase in the number of orthopaedic consultations for firearm injuries during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community. Patient race, socioeconomic status, and outpatient follow-up were similar between the pandemic group and the pre-pandemic group. There was a higher proportion of uninsured patients within the pandemic group and a lower rate of follow-up among those without insurance.

Epidemiology of firearm injuries in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Gun violence is a global health problem. Population-based research on firearm-related injuries has been relatively limited considering the burden of disease. The aim of this study was to analyze nationwide epidemiological trends of firearm injuries.

METHODS

This is a retrospective nationwide epidemiological study including all patients with firearm injuries from the Swedish Trauma Registry (SweTrau) during the period 2011 and 2019. Registry data were merged with data from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention and the Swedish Police Authority.

RESULTS

There were 1010 patients admitted with firearm injuries, 96.6% men and 3.4% women, median age 26.0 years [IQR 22.0-36.3]. The overall number of firearm injuries increased on a yearly basis (P < 0.001). The most common anatomical injury location was lower extremity (29.7%) followed by upper extremity (13.8%), abdomen (13.8%), and chest (12.5%). The head was the most severely injured body region with a median abbreviated injury scale (AIS) of 5 [IQR 3.2-5]. Vascular injuries were mainly located to the lower extremity (42%; 74/175). Majority of patients (51.3%) had more than one anatomic injury location. The median hospital length of stay was 3 days [IQR 2-8]. 154 patients (15.2%) died within 24 h of admission. The 30-day and 90-day mortality was 16.7% (169/1010) and 17.5% (177/1010), respectively. There was an association between 24-h mortality and emergency department systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg [OR 30.3, 95% CI 16.1-56.9] as well as the following injuries with AIS ≥ 3; head [OR 11.8, 95% CI 7.5-18.5], chest [OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-4.1], and upper extremity [OR 3.6, CI 1.3-10.1].

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide study shows an annual increase of firearm-related injuries and fatalities. Firearm injuries affect people of all ages but more frequently young males in major cities. One in six patients succumbed from their injuries within 30 days with most deaths occurring within 24 h of hospital admission. Given the impact of firearm-related injuries on society additional research on a national level is critical.