Health Care Utilization After Nonfatal Firearm Injuries.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Firearm injuries are a significant public health issue in children.
• Limited data exists on healthcare needs following nonfatal childhood firearm injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe healthcare utilization and associated costs for youth with nonfatal firearm injuries.
• To compare healthcare use in Medicaid and commercially insured youth post-firearm injury using propensity score matching.

Main Methods:

• A propensity score matched cohort analysis was performed using 2015-2018 Medicaid and Commercial Marketscan data.
• Youth aged 0-17 with nonfatal firearm injuries were matched 1:1 to non-injured peers.
• Healthcare utilization (inpatient, ED, outpatient visits) and costs were assessed for 12 months post-injury.

Main Results:

• Firearm-injured youth showed a 5.31-fold increased risk of inpatient hospitalization and a 1.49-fold increased risk of emergency department visits.
• Outpatient visit risk increased by 1.06-fold.
• Average 12-month healthcare costs were substantially higher for injured youth ($7581) compared to non-injured youth ($1990).

Conclusions:

• Nonfatal firearm injuries in youth lead to significantly increased hospitalizations, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, and healthcare costs.
• These findings underscore the substantial burden of firearm injuries on the healthcare system.
• Potential population health care savings of $62.9 million are estimated for US youth nonfatal firearm injuries in 2020.