A Parallel Pandemic: Increased Firearm Injuries at Five Northern California Trauma Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interrupted Time-series Analysis
| Autor: | Matthay, Zachary A, Callcut, Rachael A, Kwok, Amy M, Aarabi, Shahram, Forrester, Joseph D, Kornblith, Lucy Z, Northern California Research Consortium for Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Study Group |
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| Rok vydání: | 2022 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Firearms Physical Injury - Accidents and Adverse Effects Prevention Gunshot COVID-19 Interrupted Time Series Analysis Injuries and accidents pandemics Medical and Health Sciences California Good Health and Well Being trauma Trauma Centers Northern California Research Consortium for Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Study Group Clinical Research Wounds Humans Surgery Gun Violence Retrospective Studies |
| Zdroj: | Annals of surgery, vol 275, iss 5 |
| Popis: | ObjectiveThis study aimed to characterize changes in firearm injuries at 5 level 1 trauma centers in Northern California in the 12 months following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the preceding 4 years, accounting for regional variations and seasonal trends.Summary and background dataIncreased firearm injuries have been reported during the early peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic despite shelter-in-place restrictions. However, these data are overwhelmingly from singlecenter studies, during the initial phase of the pandemic prior to lifting of shelter-in-place restrictions, or do not account for seasonal trends.MethodsAn interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) of all firearm injuries presenting to 5 adult level 1 trauma centers in Northern California was performed (January 2016to February 2021). ITSA modeled the association of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) with monthly firearm injuries using the ordinary least-squares method, included month indicators to adjust for seasonality, and specified lags of up to 12 months to account for autocorrelation.ResultsPrior to the start of COVID-19, firearm injuries averaged (±SD) of 86 (±16) and were decreasing by 0.5/month (P < 0.01). The start of COVID- 19 (March 2020) was associated with an alarming increase of 39 firearm injuries/month (P < 0.01) followed by an ongoing rise of 3.5/mo (P < 0.01). This resulted in an average of 130 (±26) firearm injuries/month during the COVID-19 period and included 8 of the 10 highest monthly firearm injury rates in the past 5 years.ConclusionsThese data highlight an alarming escalation in firearm injuries in the 12 months following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern California. Additional studies and resources are needed to better understand and address this parallel public health crisis. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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