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Firearm injury hospitalizations common among children, adolescents
In the United States during 2009, about 20 children and adolescents were hospitalized each day due to firearm injuries, according to recent study findings published in Pediatrics.
“These data highlight the toll of gun-related injuries that extends beyond high-profile cases, and those children and adolescents who die before being hospitalized,” John M. Leventhal, MD, of the department of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Pediatricians and other health care providers play an important role in preventing these injuries through counseling about firearm safety, including safe storage.”
Leventhal and colleagues analyzed data on children and adolescents younger than 20 years from the 2009 Kids’ Inpatient Database to determine the frequency of firearm-related hospitalizations in the United States.
In 2009, there were 7,391 hospitalizations among children and adolescents due to firearms. Assault-related injuries were the most common (n=4,559) reason for hospitalization, whereas suicide attempts were the least common (n=270). Unintentional firearm injuries were most common among the younger children. Overall, 89.2% of injuries were among males and 47.2% were among blacks.
There was an overall rate of 8.87 per 100,000 people younger than 20 years for hospitalizations due to firearm injuries.
Fifty-two percent of injuries were open wounds, followed by fractures (50.4%) and internal injuries of the thorax, abdomen or pelvis (34.2%). More than half (61.5%) of patients hospitalized underwent a major procedure and 6.1% died during hospitalization.
“This study highlights the substantial morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents due to firearm injuries,” the researchers wrote. “In 2009, in the United States, almost 7,400 persons <20 years of age were hospitalized for firearm injuries. The rates of hospitalizations were highest in 15- to 19-year-olds and in black males. Public health efforts should be dedicated to reducing this common source of childhood injuries.”
Disclosure: The study was funded by the Child Abuse Funds of the Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine and by donations to the Child Protection Team, Boston Medical Center. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
