Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S.
Introduction: Firearm injuries in the U.S. are rising, with emerging adults (aged 18–24 years) experiencing disproportionately high rates of fatal and nonfatal incidents. This study examines trends, intent-specific patterns, and disparities in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries among this high-risk...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | AJPM Focus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065425000203 |
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| author | Morayo O. Akande, MPH Jason T. Carbone, PhD Michael G. Vaughn, PhD Dylan B. Jackson, PhD Cassandra K. Crifasi, PhD, MPH |
| author_facet | Morayo O. Akande, MPH Jason T. Carbone, PhD Michael G. Vaughn, PhD Dylan B. Jackson, PhD Cassandra K. Crifasi, PhD, MPH |
| author_sort | Morayo O. Akande, MPH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Firearm injuries in the U.S. are rising, with emerging adults (aged 18–24 years) experiencing disproportionately high rates of fatal and nonfatal incidents. This study examines trends, intent-specific patterns, and disparities in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries among this high-risk age group. Methods: Data were from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (2006–2020), analyzing emergency department admissions for firearm injuries among participants aged 18–24 years. Firearm injuries were classified by intent (assault, unintentional, intentional self-injury, undetermined, other) using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. Trend analyses, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression models were employed to identify patterns and associations by intent and key socioeconomic and geographic indicators. Analysis was conducted in April 2024. Results: Firearm injuries increased annually during Quarter 3 and spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for unintentional injuries and assaults. Males had significantly higher odds of firearm injury admissions across all intents than females. Intentional self-injury was more prevalent in rural areas, whereas assault and unintentional injuries were higher in urban areas and among those with Medicaid/Medicare insurance or uninsured. Firearm injury admissions were more likely among individuals from ZIP codes with lower median household incomes, except for intentional self-injury, which showed unique patterns across most indicators. The Northeast had substantially lower firearm-related emergency department admissions across all intents than other U.S. regions. Conclusions: Findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate firearm injuries among emerging adults in the U.S. The significant increase in unintentional firearm injuries and assaults during COVID-19, coupled with the decline in nonfirearm injuries during this time, underscores the complex interplay of social isolation, increased firearm exposure, and broader societal disruptions. Disparities based on sex, insurance status, and geography further emphasize the necessity for public health interventions. Addressing these multifactorial influences and disparities is essential to developing effective, evidence-based policies. Future research should prioritize enhancing data collection on nonfatal firearm injuries and standardizing reporting systems to support these efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73541ceee4554ba7a4ad70a3e90adab3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2773-0654 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | AJPM Focus |
| spelling | doaj-art-73541ceee4554ba7a4ad70a3e90adab32025-08-20T02:12:19ZengElsevierAJPM Focus2773-06542025-06-014310033210.1016/j.focus.2025.100332Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S.Morayo O. Akande, MPH0Jason T. Carbone, PhD1Michael G. Vaughn, PhD2Dylan B. Jackson, PhD3Cassandra K. Crifasi, PhD, MPH4Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Address correspondence to: Morayo Akande, MPH, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore MD 21205.School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MichiganSchool of Social Work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MissouriDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MarylandDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MarylandIntroduction: Firearm injuries in the U.S. are rising, with emerging adults (aged 18–24 years) experiencing disproportionately high rates of fatal and nonfatal incidents. This study examines trends, intent-specific patterns, and disparities in fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries among this high-risk age group. Methods: Data were from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (2006–2020), analyzing emergency department admissions for firearm injuries among participants aged 18–24 years. Firearm injuries were classified by intent (assault, unintentional, intentional self-injury, undetermined, other) using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. Trend analyses, descriptive statistics, and logistic regression models were employed to identify patterns and associations by intent and key socioeconomic and geographic indicators. Analysis was conducted in April 2024. Results: Firearm injuries increased annually during Quarter 3 and spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for unintentional injuries and assaults. Males had significantly higher odds of firearm injury admissions across all intents than females. Intentional self-injury was more prevalent in rural areas, whereas assault and unintentional injuries were higher in urban areas and among those with Medicaid/Medicare insurance or uninsured. Firearm injury admissions were more likely among individuals from ZIP codes with lower median household incomes, except for intentional self-injury, which showed unique patterns across most indicators. The Northeast had substantially lower firearm-related emergency department admissions across all intents than other U.S. regions. Conclusions: Findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate firearm injuries among emerging adults in the U.S. The significant increase in unintentional firearm injuries and assaults during COVID-19, coupled with the decline in nonfirearm injuries during this time, underscores the complex interplay of social isolation, increased firearm exposure, and broader societal disruptions. Disparities based on sex, insurance status, and geography further emphasize the necessity for public health interventions. Addressing these multifactorial influences and disparities is essential to developing effective, evidence-based policies. Future research should prioritize enhancing data collection on nonfatal firearm injuries and standardizing reporting systems to support these efforts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065425000203Young adultfirearmsinjuriesemergency room visitshealth status disparities |
| spellingShingle | Morayo O. Akande, MPH Jason T. Carbone, PhD Michael G. Vaughn, PhD Dylan B. Jackson, PhD Cassandra K. Crifasi, PhD, MPH Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. AJPM Focus Young adult firearms injuries emergency room visits health status disparities |
| title | Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. |
| title_full | Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. |
| title_fullStr | Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. |
| title_short | Trends and Disparities in Firearm Injuries Among Emerging Adults: A 15-Year Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions in the U.S. |
| title_sort | trends and disparities in firearm injuries among emerging adults a 15 year analysis of emergency department admissions in the u s |
| topic | Young adult firearms injuries emergency room visits health status disparities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773065425000203 |
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