 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Carla Discala, PhD, Peidatric and Adolescent Health Research Center, Tufts - New England Medical Center, 750 Washington St, Box 75K-R, Boston, MA 02111, (617) 636-5037, cdiscala_tra@hotmail.com and Robert Sege, MD, PhD, Pediatric and Adolescent Health Research Center, Tufts - New England Medical Center, NEMC Box 351, 750 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111.
Objectives: To compare outcomes by intent of non-fatal firearms injuries in an hospitalized population, newborn to 19 years of age, and estimate the national incidence of ensuing disability.
Data Sets: National Pediatric Trauma Registry (NPTR) and NEISS.
Outcome Measures: Demographics, medical history, scene of injury, primary body part injured, injury severity, resources utilization, short and long term disability.
Design: Descriptive statistics and comparisons using Chi-square, Odds Ratio, and t-test.
Results: NPTR firearms unintentional (n=268) and assault injuries (n=506) were compared. Males were ~ 80% in both groups. Compared to the unintentionally injured, the assaulted children were older and more frequently black Approximately 17% in both groups had medical history. Unintentional injuries occurred mainly in private dwellings (75.7%), assaults in public places/street (53.8%). In both groups, injuries to multiple body regions were prevalent, and a substantial proportion endured serious to critical injuries. Most children were transported by ambulance. A significant proportion in the unintentional group were airlifted. The rate of admission to the ICU was ~40% for both groups. The unintentionally injured had higher rate of surgical intervention (66.8% vs 50.8%) and stayed in the hospital longer than the assaulted ones ( median: 5 days vs 3 days). Almost half in both groups were discharged with disability. Applying NPTR disability rate to NEISS estimates of hospitalization suggests that ~4,800 children nationwide develop disability from firearm injuries annually.
Conclusions: Non-fatal firearm related injuries in a pediatric population are associated with a high use of medical resources, and lasting disability. Public policies should be developed and implemented to reduce the occurrence of these events.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Injuries, Children and Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.