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Long-term Mortality in Pediatric Firearm Assault Survivors: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Comparative Cohort Study
Ashkon Shaahinfar1,2, Irene H Yen3, Harrison J Alter4
1Division of Emergency Medicine, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA.
Insights
Children surviving firearm assault (FA) or nonfirearm assault (NFA) face higher long-term mortality risks than those surviving unintentional trauma (UT). Assault, regardless of firearm use, is a significant risk factor for long-term death in pediatric trauma survivors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma Research
- Public Health
- Epidemiology of Violence
Background:
- Pediatric assault survivors face unique long-term health challenges.
- Understanding mortality risks after pediatric trauma is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare long-term mortality in children surviving firearm assault (FA), nonfirearm assault (NFA), and unintentional trauma (UT).
- To identify factors associated with long-term mortality in pediatric trauma survivors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (0-16 years) across three California trauma centers (2000-2009).
- Utilized Social Security Death Master File and state vital statistics for mortality follow-up through 2014.
- Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed assault exposure and long-term mortality.
Main Results:
- 75 deaths occurred among 413 FA, 405 NFA, and 7,062 UT survivors.
- Homicide accounted for two-thirds of long-term deaths.
- Assault (with or without firearm) was an independent risk factor for long-term mortality (AHR=1.9), particularly in adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric assault survivors, including those of firearm assault, exhibit increased long-term mortality compared to unintentional trauma survivors.
- Adolescent age, male sex, Black race/ethnicity, and public insurance are independent risk factors for long-term mortality.
Objectives:
The objective was to determine whether children surviving to hospital discharge after firearm assault (FA) and nonfirearm assault (NFA) are at increased risk of mortality relative to survivors of unintentional trauma (UT). Secondarily, the objective was to elucidate the factors associated with long-term mortality after pediatric trauma.
Methods:
This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients aged 0 to 16 years who presented to the three trauma centers in San Francisco and Alameda counties, California, between January 2000 and December 2009 after 1) FA, 2) NFA, and 3) UT. The Social Security Death Master File and the California Department of Public Health Vital Statistics (2000-2014) were queried through December 31, 2014, to identify those who died after surviving their initial hospitalization and to delineate cause of death. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to determine associations between exposure to assault and long-term mortality.
Results:
We analyzed 413 FA, 405 NFA, and 7,062 UT patients who survived their index hospital visit. A total of 75 deaths occurred, including 3.9, 3.2, and 0.7% of each cohort, respectively. Two-thirds of all long-term deaths were due to homicide. After multivariate adjustment, adolescent age, male sex, black race/ethnicity, and public insurance were independent risk factors for long-term mortality. FA (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82-4.0) and NFA (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.93-3.9) did not convey a statistically significant difference in risk of long-term mortality compared to UT. Being assaulted by any means (with or without a firearm), however, was an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in the full study population (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.01-3.4) and among adolescents (AHR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.01-3.6).
Conclusion:
Children and adolescents who survive assault, including by firearm, have increased long-term mortality compared to those who survive unintentional, nonviolent trauma.
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