Gun violence revictimization in New York State: What increases the risk of being shot again?

BACKGROUND: While gun injuries are more likely to occur in in urban settings and affect people of color, factors associated with gun violence revictimization-suffering multiple incidents of gun violence-are unknown. We examined victim demographics and environmental factors associated with gun violence revictimization in New York state (NYS). METHODS: The 2005-2020 NYS hospital discharge database was queried for patients aged 12-65 years with firearm-related hospital encounters. Patient and environmental variables were extracted. Patient home zip code was used to determine the Social Deprivation Index (SDI) for each patient's area of residence. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses among patients who suffered a single incident of gun violence or gun violence revictimization. RESULTS: We identified 38,974 gun violence victims among whom 2,243 (5.8%) suffered revictimization. The proportion of revictimization rose from 4% in 2008 to 8% in 2020 (p < 0.01). The median [IQR] time from first to second incident among those who suffered revictimization was 359 [81-1,167] days. Revictimization was more common among Blacks (75.0% vs 65.1%, p < 0.01), patients with Medicaid (54.9% vs 43.2%, p < 0.01), and in areas of higher deprivation (84.8 percentile vs 82.1 percentile, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Gun violence revictimization is on the rise. People of color and those residing in areas with high social deprivation are more likely to be re-injured. Our findings emphasize the importance of community-level over individual-level interventions for prevention of gun violence revictimization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological, Level III.

A community-university run conference as a catalyst for addressing health disparities in an urban community.

The African American population of Buffalo, New York experiences striking race-based health disparities due to adverse social determinants of health. A team of community leaders and university faculty determined that a community dialogue was needed to focus research and advocacy on the root causes of these disparities. In response, we organized the annual Igniting Hope conference series that has become the premier conference on health disparities in the region. The series, now supported by an R13 conference grant from NCATS, has been held four times (2018-2021) and has attracted community members, community leaders, university faculty, and trainees. The agenda includes talks by national leaders and breakout/working groups that led to a new state law that has reduced disproportionate traffic-ticketing and drivers' license suspensions in Black neighborhoods; mitigation of the disproportionate COVID-19 fatalities in Black communities; and the launching of a university-supported institute. We describe the key elements of success for a conference series designed by a community-university partnership to catalyze initiatives that are having an impact on social determinants of health in Buffalo.

Indices of relative weight and obesity.

Analyses are reported on the correlation with height and with subcutaneous fat thickness of relative weight expressed as per cent of average weight at given height, and of the ratios weight/height, weight/height squared, and the ponderal index (cube root of weight divided by height) in 7424 'healthy' men in 12 cohorts in five countries. Analyses are also reported on the relationship of those indicators of relative weight to body density in 180 young men and in 248 men aged 49­59. Judged by the criteria of correlation with height (lowest is best) and to measures of body fatness (highest is best), the ponderal index is the poorest of the relative weight indices studied. The ratio of weight to height squared, here termed the body mass index, is slightly better in these respects than the simple ratio of weight to height. The body mass index seems preferable over other indices of relative weight on these grounds as well as on the simplicity of the calculation and, in contrast to percentage of average weight, the applicability to all populations at all times.