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A Parallel Pandemic: Increased Firearm Injuries at Five Northern California Trauma Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Interrupted Time-series Analysis.
Matthay, Zachary A; Callcut, Rachael A; Kwok, Amy M; Aarabi, Shahram; Forrester, Joseph D; Kornblith, Lucy Z.
  • Matthay ZA; Department of Surgery, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA.
  • Callcut RA; Department of Surgery, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA.
  • Kwok AM; Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco Fresno, Fresno, CA.
  • Aarabi S; Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco-East Bay, Oakland, CA.
  • Forrester JD; Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
  • Kornblith LZ; Department of Surgery, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA.
Ann Surg ; 275(5): e725-e727, 2022 05 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2051782
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

This 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 DATA Increased 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.

METHODS:

An 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.

RESULTS:

Prior 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.

CONCLUSIONS:

These 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.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Wounds, Gunshot / Firearms / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Limits: Adult / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Ann Surg Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Sla.0000000000005334

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Wounds, Gunshot / Firearms / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study Limits: Adult / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Ann Surg Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Sla.0000000000005334