Geographic analysis and socioeconomic factors associated with pediatric window fall injuries in Utah: a nine-year...

Falls from windows are a source of significant morbidity and mortality among pediatric trauma patients. Public health initiatives to prevent these injuries are crucial, but to appropriately deploy these initiatives, understanding where to target these interventions is critical. The purpose of this study was to identify geographic locations of these injuries to develop targeted injury prevention strategies.

This study conducted a retrospective analysis of all window fall injuries that presented to Utah's only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center from 2015 to 2024. A geographic analysis was performed using ArcGIS mapping software, and linear and logistic regression models were employed to examine the relationships between patient characteristics and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) values.

A total of 223 window fall injuries were identified over the 9-year study period. The median age at presentation was 3.8 [2.8-5.2] years. Most patients were male (58%) and lived in single-family homes (58%). The median injury severity score was 9 [2-14], and 37% of patients had an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of greater than 3, indicating a significant injury, for the head and neck region. There was no relationship between state or national ADI and injury severity score, length of stay, Glasgow coma scale, or intensive care unit admission. Younger patients were more likely to live in a more disadvantaged neighborhood based on state ADI (p = 0.03), but not based on national ADI (p = 0.06).

The geographic distribution and patient injury characteristics of window fall injuries from the state of Utah over a 9-year period were not correlated with state or national ADI, contrary to what has been seen in other locations. From these data, key communities where these injuries have been most common have been identified and will be the focus of targeted prevention strategies moving forward.