The epidemiology of firearm-related injuries in the united states compared to other mechanisms: Recent trends in trauma center hospital discharges.

INTRODUCTION

To help address the continuing epidemic of firearm-related trauma in the United States (US), we conducted a detailed analysis of recent trauma center discharge data and compared firearm-related injuries to mechanisms such as falls, pedestrian injuries, and motor vehicle crashes.

METHODS

We combined Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) data for 2011 to 2022 and analyzed variables for patient demographics, injury mechanisms, disposition, and hospital characteristics over time. Analyses consisted of descriptive statistics, bar plots, time series plots, and comparative tables.

RESULTS

There were 3,597,688 US trauma hospital discharges in the TQIP data set for 2011 to 2022 of which 307,062 (8.4%) involved firearms-a higher proportion than those involving pedestrian injuries (3.8%), pedal cycles (2.0%), or motorcycles (6.2%). The case-fatality rate of inpatient hospital deaths for firearm injuries was 8.8%, surpassed only by that of pedestrian injuries (9.9%). Firearms accounted for the youngest patient population over the 12-year study period for the six injury mechanisms analyzed. Over time, firearm-related assaults increased from 75.7% of all firearm injuries in 2011 to 88.6% in 2020. Most, if not all, of this increase appeared to occur in the post-2014 time period.

CONCLUSIONS

Better defining national injury trends allows for targeted injury prevention efforts, prioritized research endeavors, and optimized resource allocation.