Race/ethnicity on firearm & self-injuries during COVID-19 using TQIP data.

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased assaults, self-inflicted injuries, and firearm-related injuries across the nation, along with increased reports of depression and anxiety worldwide. Our study examines trends in these types of injuries among diverse racial and ethnic groups in the United States during this time.

METHODS

Data was extracted from the ACS-TQIP database, including patients with assaults, self-inflicted injuries and firearm-related injuries from 2018 to 2021. Pre-COVID period was defined as 2018-2019, and COVID period as 2020-2021. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regressions to identify associations between injury rates and COVID period, sex, race, and ethnicity.

RESULTS

We identified 417,797 assaults (9.3% of traumas), 57,853 self-inflicted injuries (1.3%) and 208,882 firearm-related injuries (4.7%). Multivariable analysis revealed significant increase in assaults (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: [1.01, 1.03]; p < 0.001) and firearm-related injuries (1.28 [1.27, 1.29]; p < 0.001) and a significant decrease in self-inflicted injuries (0.98 [0.97, 0.99]; p = 0.039) during the COVID period.Asian American Pacific Islanders (1.06 [1.02-1.10]; p < 0.005), American Indians (3.47 [3.35-3.60]; p < 0.001), Black or African American (5.32 [5.26-5.38]; p < 0.001, other races (1.23 [1.20-1.25]; p < 0.001) and Hispanics (1.71[1.65-1.74]; p < 0.001) had higher odds of assaults during COVID.Asian American Pacific Islanders (1.12 [1.04-1.20]; p = 0.001) and American Indians (1.23 [1.12-1.35]; p < 0.001 had higher odds of self-inflicted injuries and Hispanic patients had lower odds (0.73 [0.70-0.76]; p < 0.001) during COVID.American Indians (1.45 [1.36-1.55]; p < 0.001), Black or African Americans (6.42 [6.33-6.52]; p < 0.001), Hispanics (1.46 [1.43-1.50]; p < 0.001) and other races (1.11 [1.08-1.15]; p < 0.001) had higher odds of firearm related injuries during COVID.

CONCLUSION

The COVID period saw higher odds of assaults, self-inflicted injuries, and firearm-related injuries in certain racial/ethnic minorities. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address the disproportionate impact on racial/ethnic minorities.