Race, structural racism and racial disparities in firearm homicide victimisation.

OBJECTIVES: To identify an approach in measuring the association between structural racism and racial disparities in firearm homicide victimisation focusing on racism, rather than race. METHODS: We examined associations of six measures of structural racism (Black/white disparity ratios in poverty, education, labour force participation, rental housing, single-parent households and index crime arrests) with state-level Black-white disparities in US age-adjusted firearm homicide victimisation rates 2010-2019. We regressed firearm homicide victimisation disparities on four specifications of independent variables: (1) absolute measure only; (2) absolute measure and per cent Black; (3) absolute measure and Black-white disparity ratio and (4) absolute measure, per cent Black and disparity ratio. RESULTS: For all six measures of structural racism the optimal specification included the absolute measure and Black-white disparity ratio and did not include per cent Black. Coefficients for the Black-white disparity were statistically significant, while per cent Black was not. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of structural racism measures, the inclusion of per cent Black did not contribute to the explanation of firearm homicide disparities in this study. Findings provide empiric evidence for the preferred use of structural racism measures instead of race.

A Clinician's Guide to Conducting Research on Causal Effects.

Surgeons are uniquely poised to conduct research to improve patient care, yet a gap often exists between the clinician's desire to guide patient care with causal evidence and having adequate training necessary to produce causal evidence. This guide aims to address this gap by providing clinically relevant examples to illustrate necessary assumptions required for clinical research to produce causal estimates.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders among Older Adults with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Older adults suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) are subject to higher injury burden and mortality. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders are used to provide care aligned with patient wishes, but they may not be equitably distributed across racial/ethnic groups. We examined racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of DNR orders at hospital admission in older patients with severe TBI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Databank (NTDB) between 2007 to 2016. We examined patients ≥ 65 years with severe TBI. For our primary aim, the exposure was race/ethnicity and outcome was the presence of a documented DNR at hospital admission. We conducted an exploratory analysis of hospital outcomes including hospital mortality, discharge to hospice, and healthcare utilization (intracranial pressure monitor placement, hospital LOS, and duration of mechanical ventilation). RESULTS: Compared to White patients, Black patients (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.35-0.64), Hispanic patients (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.40-0.70), and Asian patients (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44-0.90) had decreased odds of having a DNR order at hospital admission. Patients with DNRs had increased odds of hospital mortality (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.94-2.42), discharge to hospice (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.75-2.46), shorter hospital LOS (-2.07 days, 95% CI -3.07 to -1.08) and duration of mechanical ventilation (-1.09 days, 95% CI -1.52 to -0.67). There was no significant difference in the utilization of ICP monitoring (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.78-1.12). CONCLUSIONS: We found significant racial and ethnic differences in the utilization of DNR orders among older patients with severe TBI. Additionally. DNR orders at hospital admission were associated with increased in-hospital mortality, increased hospice utilization, and decreased healthcare utilization. Future studies should examine mechanisms underlying race-based differences in DNR utilization.

Association of concussion with high school academic standing: sex, school grade and race as stratifiers.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to examine the association between concussion history and academic standing among high school students, and whether the association varies by sex, school grade and race/ethnicity. METHODS: Data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey were used for our cross-sectional study. Exposure was self-reported history of concussions in the past 12 months. Outcome was self-reported academic standing in the past 12 months. Poisson regression was used to analyse the exposure-outcome association, and whether there were differences by our stratifying variables. RESULTS: Having a history of concussion in the past 12 months was significantly associated with a higher risk of poor academic standing during the same period, and the association varied by race/ethnicity. DISCUSSION: Youth with a history of concussion may be at risk for poorer academic standing, indicating to the importance of prevention. Future studies are needed to examine the interaction of race/ethnicity on the presented association.

Utilization of Brain Tissue Oxygenation Monitoring and Association with Mortality Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the utilization patterns of brain tissue oxygen (PbtO2) monitoring following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and determine associations with mortality, health care use, and pulmonary toxicity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients from United States trauma centers participating in the American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank between 2008 and 2016. We examined patients with severe TBI (defined by admission Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8) over the age of 18 years who survived more than 24 h from admission and required intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. The primary exposure was PbtO2 monitor placement. The primary outcome was hospital mortality, defined as death during the hospitalization or discharge to hospice. Secondary outcomes were examined to determine the association of PbtO2 monitoring with health care use and pulmonary toxicity and included the following: (1) intensive care unit length of stay, (2) hospital length of stay, and (3) development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Regression analysis was used to assess differences in outcomes between patients exposed to PbtO2 monitor placement and those without exposure by using propensity weighting to address selection bias due to the nonrandom allocation of treatment groups and patient dropout. RESULTS: A total of 35,501 patients underwent placement of an ICP monitor. There were 1,346 (3.8%) patients who also underwent PbtO2 monitor placement, with significant variation regarding calendar year and hospital. Patients who underwent placement of a PbtO2 monitor had a crude in-hospital mortality of 31.1%, compared with 33.5% in patients who only underwent placement of an ICP monitor (adjusted risk ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.76-0.93). The development of the ARDS was comparable between patients who underwent placement of a PbtO2 monitor and patients who only underwent placement of an ICP monitor (9.2% vs. 9.8%, adjusted risk ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.09). CONCLUSIONS: PbtO2 monitor utilization varied widely throughout the study period by calendar year and hospital. PbtO2 monitoring in addition to ICP monitoring, compared with ICP monitoring alone, was associated with a decreased in-hospital mortality, a longer length of stay, and a similar risk of ARDS. These findings provide further guidance for clinicians caring for patients with severe TBI while awaiting completion of further randomized controlled trials.

Improving Data Collection and Abstraction to Assess Health Equity in Trauma Care.

Current trauma registries suffer from inconsistent collection of data needed to assess health equity. To identify barriers/facilitators to collecting accurate equity-related data elements, we assessed perspectives of national stakeholders, Emergency Department (ED) registration, and Trauma Registry staff. We conducted a Delphi process with experts in trauma care systems and key informant interviews and focus groups with ED patient registration and trauma registry staff at a regional Level I trauma center. Topics included data collection process, barriers/facilitators for equity-related data collection, electronic health record (EHR) entry, trauma registry abstraction, and strategies to overcome technology limitations. Responses were qualitatively analyzed and triangulated with observations of ED and trauma registry staff workflow. Expert-identified barriers to consistent data collection included lack of staff investment in changes and lack of national standardization of data elements; facilitators were simplicity, quality improvement checks, and stakeholder investment in modifying existing technology to collect equity elements. ED staff reported experiences with patients reacting suspiciously to queries regarding race and ethnicity. Cultural resonance training, a script to explain equity data collection, and allowing patients to self-report sensitive items using technology were identified as potential facilitators. Trauma registry staff reported lack of discrete fields, and a preference for auto-populated and designated EHR fields. Identified barriers and facilitators of collection and abstraction of equity-related data elements from multiple stakeholders provides a framework for improving data collection. Successful implementation will require standardized definitions, staff training, use of existing technology for patient self-report, and discrete fields for added elements.

Firearm ownership and access to healthcare in the U.S.: A cross-sectional analysis of six states.

Provider-led firearm storage counseling is a form of firearm suicide prevention intervention. Little research examines whether barriers to healthcare access for at-risk individuals limit this intervention's impact. This study explores the relationship between household firearm presence/storage practices and healthcare access/utilization using a cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which included state-representative data from six states that completed the Firearm Safety and Healthcare Access Modules: California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. Exposures were household firearm presence and firearm storage practices. Outcomes were lacking health insurance, not having a healthcare provider, inability to afford care, and no recent routine checkup. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, employment, children in the household, and state of residency. Our analysis included 31,888 individuals; 31.1% reported a household firearm. Compared to those in firearm-owning households, those in non-firearm-owning households had higher odds of being uninsured (aOR 1.99, 95%CI 1.60-2.48), not having a provider (aOR 1.40, 95%CI 1.18-1.67), and reporting cost as a barrier to care (aOR 1.37, 95%CI 1.13-1.67). Among firearm-owning households, those with firearms stored loaded and unlocked had higher odds of lacking a personal healthcare provider (aOR 1.52, 95%CI 1.07-2.15) compared to individuals in homes where firearms were stored unloaded. Results indicate that while individuals in firearm-owning households are more likely than non-firearm owning households to have healthcare access, those in homes with the riskiest firearm storage practices had less access. Provider-led counseling may have limited reach for individuals in homes with risky firearm storage practices.

Echocardiogram Utilization Patterns and Association With Mortality Following Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in left ventricular dysfunction, which can lead to hypotension and secondary brain injuries. Although echocardiography is often used to examine cardiovascular function in multiple clinical settings, its use and association with outcomes following severe TBI are not known. To address this gap, we used the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) to describe utilization patterns of echocardiography and examine its association with mortality following severe TBI. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a large administrative trauma registry maintained by the NTDB from 2007 to 2014. Patients >18 years with isolated severe TBI, and without concurrent severe polytrauma, were included in the study. We examined echocardiogram utilization patterns (including overall utilization, factors associated with utilization, and variation in utilization) and the association of echocardiography utilization with hospital mortality, using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 47,808 patients, echocardiogram was utilized as part of clinical care in 2548 patients (5.3%). Clinical factors including vascular comorbidities and hemodynamic instability were associated with increased use of echocardiograms. Nearly half (46.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 40.3%-51.7%) of the variation in echocardiogram utilization was explained at the individual hospital level, above and beyond patient and injury factors. Exposure to an echocardiogram was associated with decreased odds of in-hospital mortality following severe TBI (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.87; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiogram utilization following severe TBI is relatively low, with wide variation in use at the hospital level. The association with decreased in-hospital mortality suggests that the information derived from echocardiography may be relevant to improving patient outcomes but will require confirmation in further prospective studies.

Association of designated open water swim area regulations and open water drowning rates.

BACKGROUND: Although most persons over 5 years of age drown in open water, few laws have sought to regulate open water swim sites. We examined the association between regulations for designated open water swim sites and open water drowning death rates by state. METHODS: Using International Classification of Disease (ICD)-10 codes in the CDC Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), we identified and calculated open water drowning deaths involving all ages from 2012 to 2017 for 50 states and calculated open water drowning death rates. We then identified and categorised types of state regulations (lifeguards, water quality, rescue equipment, tracking/planning/reporting and signage) for open water swim sites in place in 2017 for a sample of 30 states (20 high-drowning, 10 low-drowning). Analyses evaluated associations between open water drowning rates in three groups (overall, youth and non-white) and the total number and types of state regulations. RESULTS: Swim site regulations and open water drowning death rates for 10 839 victims were associated in all regression models. States with more types of regulations had lower open water drowning death rates in a dose-response relationship. States lacking regulations compared with states with all five types of regulations had open water drowning death rates 3.02 times higher among youth (95% CI 1.82 to 4.99) and 4.16 times higher among non-white residents (95% CI 2.46 to 7.05). Lifeguard and tracking/planning/reporting regulations were associated with a 33% and 45% reduction in open water drowning rates overall and among those aged 0-17 years. CONCLUSION: States' open water swim area regulations, especially addressing tracking/planning/reporting and lifeguards, were associated with lower open water drowning death rates.

Mean Arterial Pressure and Discharge Outcomes in Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Optimizing blood pressure is an important target for intervention following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). The existing literature has examined the association between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and outcomes. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a better measure of organ perfusion than SBP and is used to determine cerebral perfusion pressure but has not been previously examined in relation to outcomes after pediatric TBI. We aimed to evaluate the strength of association between MAP-based hypotension early after hospital admission and discharge outcome and to contrast the relative strength of association of hypotension with outcome between MAP-based and SBP-based blood pressure percentiles. METHODS: We examined the association between lowest age-specific MAP percentile within 12 h after pediatric intensive care unit admission and poor discharge outcome (in-hospital death or transfer to a skilled nursing facility) in children with severe (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 9) TBI who survived at least 12 h. Poisson regression results were adjusted for maximum head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity score, maximum nonhead AIS, and vasoactive medication use. We also examined the ability of lowest MAP percentile during the first 12 h to predict discharge outcomes using receiver operating curve characteristic analysis without adjustment for covariates. We contrasted the predictive ability and the relative strength of association of blood pressure with outcome between MAP and SBP percentiles. RESULTS: Data from 166 children aged < 18 years were examined, of whom 20.4% had a poor discharge outcome. Poor discharge outcome was most common among patients with lowest MAP < 5th percentile (42.9%; aRR 5.3 vs. 50-94th percentile, 95% CI 1.2, 23.0) and MAP 5-9th percentile (40%; aRR 8.5, 95% CI 1.9, 38.7). Without adjustment for injury severity or vasoactive medication use, lowest MAP percentile was moderately predictive of poor discharge outcome (AUC: 0.75, 95% CI 0.66, 0.85). In contrast, lowest SBP was associated with poor discharge outcome only for the < 5th percentile (50%; aRR 5.4, 95% CI 1.3, 22.2). Lowest SBP percentile was moderately predictive of poor discharge outcome (AUC: 0.82, 95% CI 0.74, 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: In children with severe TBI, a single MAP < 10th percentile during the first 12 h after Pediatric Intensive Care Unit admission was associated with poor discharge outcome. Lowest MAP percentile during the first 12 h was moderately predictive of poor discharge outcome. Lowest MAP percentile was more strongly associated with outcome than lowest SBP percentile but had slightly lower predictive ability than SBP.

Association of Severe Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality and Healthcare Utilization Following Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the USA. While cardiopulmonary dysfunction can result in poor outcomes following severe TBI, the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) is poorly understood. We examined the association of severe AKI with hospital mortality and healthcare utilization following isolate severe TBI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2014. We identified a cohort of adult patients with isolated severe TBI and described the incidence of severe AKI, corresponding to Acute Kidney Injury Network stage 3 disease or greater. We examined the association of severe AKI with the primary outcome of hospital mortality using multivariable logistic regression models. In secondary analyses, we examined the association of severe AKI with dialysis catheter placement, tracheostomy and gastrostomy utilization, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: There were 37,851 patients who experienced isolated severe TBI during the study period. Among these patients, 787 (2.1%) experienced severe (Stage 3 or greater) AKI. In multivariable models, the development of severe AKI in the hospital was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.64-2.52), need for tracheostomy (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.52-2.89), PEG tube placement (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.45-2.45), and increased hospital length of stay (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of severe AKI is relatively low (2.1%), but is associated with increased mortality and multiple markers of increased healthcare utilization following severe TBI.

Laparoscopy Compared With Laparotomy for the Management of Pediatric Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

BACKGROUND: There is minimal evidence evaluating the risks and benefits of laparoscopy use in hemodynamically stable children with suspected abdominal injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate postoperative outcomes in a large cohort of hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with blunt abdominal injury. METHODS: Using the 2015-2016 National Trauma Data Bank, all patients aged <18 y with injury severity score (ISS) ≤25, Glasgow coma scale ≥13, and normal blood pressure who underwent an abdominal operation for blunt abdominal trauma were included. Patients were grouped into three treatment groups: laparotomy, laparoscopy, and laparoscopy converted to laparotomy. Treatment effect estimation with inverse probability weighting was used to determine the association between treatment group and outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of 720 patients, 504 underwent laparotomy, 132 underwent laparoscopy, and 84 underwent laparoscopy converted to laparotomy. The median age was 10 (IQR: 7-15) y, and the median ISS was 9 (IQR: 5-14). Mean hospital length of stay was 2.1 d shorter (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-3.2 d) and mean intensive care unit length of stay was 1.1 d shorter (95% CI: 0.6-1.5 d) for the laparoscopy group compared with the laparotomy group. The laparoscopy group had a 2.0% lower mean probability of surgical site infection than the laparotomy group (95% CI: 1.0%-3.0%). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of hemodynamically stable pediatric patients with blunt abdominal injury, laparoscopy may have improved outcomes over laparotomy.

The effect on satiety of ingesting isosweet and isoenergetic sucrose- and isomaltulose-sweetened beverages: a randomised crossover trial.

Generating feelings of satiety may be important in maintaining weight control. It has been hypothesised that the circulating concentration of glucose is a major determinant of satiety, yet the relationship between postprandial glycaemia and satiety is inconclusive. Our aim was to assess satiety following ingestion of beverages differing in glycaemic index (GI) containing either 50 g of sucrose (GI 65) or isomaltulose (PalatinoseTM) (GI 32). The beverages were matched for sweetness using a triangle sensory test. Seventy-seven participants were randomised to the order in which they received each beverage, 2 weeks apart. A standard lunch was given at 12.00 hours. Satiety was measured using 100-mm visual analogue scales (VAS) administered at 14.00 hours (baseline) and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 min after ingesting the beverage. Weighed diet records were kept from 17.00 to 24.00 hours. Mean differences for isomaltulose compared with sucrose AUC VAS were 'How hungry do you feel?' 109 (95 % CI -443, 661) mm × min; 'How satisfied do you feel?' 29 (95 % CI -569, 627) mm × min; 'How full do you feel?' -91 (95 % CI -725, 544) mm × min and 'How much do you think you can eat?' 300 (95 % CI -318, 919) mm × min. There was no between-treatment difference in satiety question responses or in dietary energy intake -291 (95 % CI -845, 267) kJ over the remainder of the day. In this experiment, feelings of satiety were independent of the GI of the test beverages. Any differences in satiety found between foods chosen on the basis of GI could be attributable to food properties other than the glycaemic-inducing potential of the food.

Prediction of Pediatric Critical Care Resource Utilization for Disaster Triage.

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric protocols to guide allocation of limited resources during a disaster lack data to validate their use. The 2011 Pediatric Emergency Mass Critical Care Task Force recommended that expected duration of critical care be incorporated into resource allocation algorithms. We aimed to determine whether currently available pediatric illness severity scores can predict duration of critical care resource use. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Seattle Children's Hospital. PATIENTS: PICU patients admitted 2016-2018 for greater than or equal to 12 hours (n = 3,206). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We developed logistic and linear regression models in two-thirds of the cohort to predict need for and duration of PICU resources based on Pediatric Risk of Mortality-III, Pediatric Index of Mortality-3, and serial Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 scores. We tested the predictive accuracy of the models with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (need for each resource) and R (duration of use) in a validation cohort of the remaining one of three of the sample and among patients admitted during one-third of the sample and among patients admitted during surges of respiratory illness. Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score calculated 12 hours postadmission had higher predictive accuracy than either Pediatric Risk of Mortality or Pediatric Index of Mortality scores. Models incorporating 12-hour Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, age, Pediatric Overall Performance Category, Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category, chronic mechanical ventilation, and postoperative status had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.8831 for need for any PICU resource (positive predictive value 80.2%, negative predictive value 85.9%) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.9157 for mechanical ventilation (positive predictive value 85.7%, negative predictive value 89.2%) within 7 days of admission. Models accurately predicted greater than or equal to 24 hours of any resource use for 78.9% of patients and greater than or equal to 24 hours of ventilation for 83.1%. Model fit and accuracy improved for prediction of resource use within 3 days of admission, and was lower for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, vasoactive infusions, continuous renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: A model incorporating 12-hour Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction score performed well in estimating how long patients may require PICU resources, especially mechanical ventilation. A pediatric disaster triage algorithm that includes both likelihood for survival and for requiring critical care resources could minimize subjectivity in resource allocation decision-making.

Consensus Recommendations on the Prehospital Care of the Injured Athlete With a Suspected Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Sports participation is among the leading causes of catastrophic cervical spine injury (CSI) in the United States. Appropriate prehospital care for athletes with suspected CSIs should be available at all levels of sport. The goal of this project was to develop a set of best-practice recommendations appropriate for athletic trainers, emergency responders, sports medicine and emergency physicians, and others engaged in caring for athletes with suspected CSIs. METHODS: A consensus-driven approach (RAND/UCLA method) in combination with a systematic review of the available literature was used to identify key research questions and develop conclusions and recommendations on the prehospital care of the spine-injured athlete. A diverse panel of experts, including members of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the Sports Institute at UW Medicine participated in 4 Delphi rounds and a 2-day nominal group technique (NGT) meeting. The systematic review involved 2 independent reviewers and 4 rounds of blinded review. RESULTS: The Delphi process identified 8 key questions to be answered by the systematic review. The systematic review comprised 1544 studies, 49 of which were included in the final full-text review. Using the results of the systematic review as a shared evidence base, the NGT meeting created and refined conclusions and recommendations until consensus was achieved. CONCLUSIONS: These conclusions and recommendations represent a pragmatic approach, balancing expert experiences and the available scientific evidence.

Morbidity and Mortality Among Critically Injured Children With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate morbidity and mortality among critically injured children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Four-hundred sixty Level I/II adult or pediatric trauma centers contributing to the National Trauma Data Bank. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-six thousand fifty-eight patients less than 18 years old admitted to an ICU with traumatic injury from 2007 to 2016. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We assessed in-hospital mortality and need for postdischarge care among patients with and without acute respiratory distress syndrome and hospital resource utilization and discharge disposition among survivors. Analyses were adjusted for underlying mortality risk (age, Injury Severity Score, serious brain or chest injury, and admission heart rate and hypotension) and year, transfer status, and facility trauma level designation. Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 2,590 patients (1.8%). Mortality was 20.0% among acute respiratory distress syndrome patients versus 4.3% among nonacute respiratory distress syndrome patients, with an adjusted relative risk of 1.76 (95% CI, 1.52-2.04). Postdischarge care was required in an additional 44.8% of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients versus 16.0% of patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted relative risk, 3.59; 2.87-4.49), with only 35.1% of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients discharging to home versus 79.8% of patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome mortality did not change over the 10-year study period (adjusted relative risk, 1.01/yr; 0.96-1.06) nor did the proportion of acute respiratory distress syndrome patients requiring postdischarge care (adjusted relative risk, 1.04/yr; 0.97-1.11). Duration of ventilation, ICU stay, and hospital stay were all significantly longer among acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. Tracheostomy placement occurred in 18.4% of acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors versus 2.1% of patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted relative risk, 3.10; 2.59-3.70). CONCLUSIONS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome development following traumatic injury in children is associated with significantly increased risk of morbidity and mortality, even after adjustment for injury severity and hemodynamic abnormalities. Outcomes have not improved over the past decade, emphasizing the need for new therapeutic interventions, and prevention strategies for acute respiratory distress syndrome among severely injured children.

Association of Blood Component Ratios With 24-Hour Mortality in Injured Children Receiving Massive Transfusion.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if higher fresh frozen plasma and platelet to packed RBC ratios are associated with lower 24-hour mortality in bleeding pediatric trauma patients. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Trauma Quality Improvement Program Database from 2014 to 2016. SETTING: Level I and II pediatric trauma centers participating in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program PATIENTS:: Injured children (≤ 14 yr old) who received massive transfusion (≥ 40 mL/kg total blood products in 24 hr). Of 123,836 patients, 590 underwent massive transfusion, of which 583 met inclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ratios of fresh frozen plasma:packed RBC and platelet:packed RBC. Of the 583 patients, 60% were male and the median age was 5 years (interquartile range, 2-10 yr). Overall mortality was 19.7% (95% CI, 16.6-23.2%) at 24 hours. There was 51% (adjusted relative risk, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27-0.87; p = 0.02) and 40% (adjusted relative risk, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39-0.92; p = 0.02) lower risk of death at 24 hours for the high (≥ 1:1) and medium (≥ 1:2 and < 1:1) fresh frozen plasma:packed RBC ratio groups, respectively, compared with the low ratio group (< 1:2). Platelet:packed RBC ratio was not associated with mortality (adjusted relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.51-1.71; p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Higher fresh frozen plasma ratios were associated with lower 24-hour mortality in massively transfused pediatric trauma patients. The platelet ratio was not associated with mortality. Although these findings represent the largest study evaluating blood product ratios in pediatric trauma patients, prospective studies are necessary to determine the optimum blood product ratios to minimize mortality in this population.

Firearm assault injuries by residence and injury occurrence location.

Research on spatial injury patterns is limited by a lack of precise injury occurrence location data. Using linked hospital and death records, we examined residence and injury locations for firearm assaults and homicides in or among residents of King County, Washington, USA from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014. In total, 670 injuries were identified, 586 with geocoded residence and injury locations. Three-quarters of injuries occurred outside the census tract where the victim resided. Median distance between locations was 3.9 miles, with victims 18-34 having the greatest distances between residence and injury location. 40 of 398 tracts had a ratio of injury incidents to injured residents of >1. Routine collection of injury location data and homelessness status could decrease misclassification and bias. Researchers should consider whether residential address is an appropriate proxy for injury location, based on data quality and their specific research question.

Risk Factors on Hospital Arrival for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Following Pediatric Trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To determine risk factors identifiable at hospital arrival associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome development among critically injured children. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Level I or II adult or pediatric trauma centers contributing to the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2016. PATIENTS: Patients less than 18 years admitted to an ICU with traumatic injury. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We determined associations between patient, injury, and clinical characteristics present at hospital arrival with development of acute respiratory distress syndrome recorded as a hospital complication. Acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 1.8% of 146,058 critically injured children (n = 2,590). The only demographic factor associated with higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome on multivariable analysis was African American race (relative risk, 1.42 vs white; 95% CI, 1.13-1.78). Injury characteristics included firearm injuries (relative risk 1.93; 1.50-2.48) and motor vehicle crashes (relative risk, 1.91; 1.57-2.31) relative to falls; spine (relative risk, 1.39; 1.20-1.60), chest (relative risk, 1.36; 1.22-1.52), or lower extremity injuries (relative risk, 1.26; 1.10-1.44); amputations (relative risk, 2.10; 1.51-2.91); and more severe injury (relative risk, 3.69 for Injury Severity Score 40-75 vs 1-8; 2.50-5.44). Clinical variables included abnormal respiratory status (intubated relative risk, 1.67; 1.23-2.26 and hypopnea relative risk, 1.23; 1.05-1.45 and tachypnea relative risk, 1.26; 1.10-1.44) and lower Glasgow Coma Scale score (relative risk, 5.61 for Glasgow Coma Scale score 3 vs 15; 4.44-7.07). CONCLUSIONS: We provide the first description of the incidence of and risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome among pediatric trauma patients. Improved understanding of the risk factors associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome following pediatric trauma may help providers anticipate its development and intervene early to improve outcomes for severely injured children.

Donor support for quality assurance and pharmacovigilance of anti-malarials in malaria-endemic countries.

BACKGROUND: Malaria control efforts have been strengthened by funding from donor groups and government agencies. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and the Malaria (Global Fund), the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) account for the majority of donor support for malaria control and prevention efforts. Pharmacovigilance (PV), which encompasses all activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem, is a necessary part of efforts to reduce drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes. This paper reports on an analysis of PV plans in the Global Fund and PMI and World Bank's grants for malaria prevention and control. METHODS: All active malaria grants as of September 2015 funded by the Global Fund and World Bank, and fiscal year 2015 and 2016 PMI Malaria Operational Plans (MOP) were identified. The total amount awarded for PV-related activities and drug quality assurance was abstracted. A Key-Word-in-Context (KWIC) analysis was conducted for the content of each grant. Specific search terms consisted of pharmacovigilance, pregn*, registry, safety, adverse drug, mass drug administration, primaquine, counterfeit, sub-standard, and falsified. Grants that mentioned PV activities identified in the KWIC search, listed PV in their budgets, or included the keywords: counterfeit, sub-standard, falsified, mass drug administration, or adverse event were thematically coded using Dedoose software version 7.0. RESULTS: The search identified 159 active malaria grants including 107 Global Fund grants, 39 fiscal year 2015 and 2016 PMI grants and 13 World Bank grants. These grants were primarily awarded to low-income countries (57.2%) and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (70.4%). Thirty-seven (23.3%) grants included a budget line for PV- or drug quality assurance-related activities, including 21 PMI grants and 16 Global Fund grants. Only 23 (14.5%) grants directly mentioned PV. The primary focus area was improving drug quality monitoring, especially among the PMI grants. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the analysis demonstrate that funding for PV has not been sufficiently prioritized by either the key malaria donor organizations or by the recipient countries, as reflected in their grant proposal submissions and MOPs.