The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study.

Creator(s)

Amelia T. Collings
Manzur Farazi
Kyle J. Van Arendonk
Mary E. Fallat
Peter C. Minneci
Thomas T. Sato
K Elizabeth Speck
Katherine J. Deans
Richard A. Falcone
David S. Foley
Jason D. Fraser, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Samir K. Gadepalli
Martin S. Keller
Meera Kotagal
Matthew P. Landman
Charles M. Leys
Troy A. Markel
Nathan Rubalcava
Shawn D. St Peter, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Katherine T. Flynn-O'Brien
Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.03.034; PMCID: PMC9001175

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Firearm sales in the United States (U.S.) markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to determine if firearm injuries in children were associated with stay-at-home orders (SHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized there would be an increase in pediatric firearm injuries during SHO.

METHODS: This was a multi institutional, retrospective study of institutional trauma registries. Patients(NTDB) criteria were included. A "COVID" cohort, defined as time from initiation of state SHO through September 30, 2020 was compared to "Historical" controls from an averaged period of corresponding dates in 2016-2019. An interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was utilized to evaluate the association of the U.S. declaration of a national state of emergency with pediatric firearm injuries.

RESULTS: Nine Level I pediatric trauma centers were included, contributing 48,111 pediatric trauma patients, of which 1,090 patients (2.3%) suffered firearm injuries. There was a significant increase in the proportion of firearm injuries in the COVID cohort (COVID 3.04% vs. Historical 1.83%; p < 0.001). There was an increased cumulative burden of firearm injuries in 2020 compared to a historical average. ITSA showed an 87% increase in the observed rate of firearm injuries above expected after the declaration of a nationwide emergency (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The proportion of firearm injuries affecting children increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic was associated with an increase in pediatric firearm injuries above expected rates based on historical patterns.

Journal Title

Journal of pediatric surgery

Volume

57

Issue

7

First Page

1370

Last Page

1376

Keywords

2020; COVID-19; Firearm violence; Gun violence; Pandemic; Pediatric trauma

Recommended Citation

Collings AT, Farazi M, Van Arendonk KJ, et al. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated rise in pediatric firearm injuries: A multi-institutional study. J Pediatr Surg. 2022;57(7):1370-1376. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2022.03.034