Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study

Background Existing study findings on firearms-related injury patterns are largely skewed towards males, who comprise the majority of this injury population. Given the paucity of existing data for females with these injuries, we aimed to elucidate the demographics, injury patterns, and outcomes of f...

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Main Authors: Shahin Mohseni, Babak Sarani, Maximilian Peter Forssten, James A Zebley, Catherine Zwemer, Susan Kartiko, Joy Dowden Hughes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-11-01
Series:Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
Online Access:https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001181.full
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author Shahin Mohseni
Babak Sarani
Maximilian Peter Forssten
James A Zebley
Catherine Zwemer
Susan Kartiko
Joy Dowden Hughes
author_facet Shahin Mohseni
Babak Sarani
Maximilian Peter Forssten
James A Zebley
Catherine Zwemer
Susan Kartiko
Joy Dowden Hughes
author_sort Shahin Mohseni
collection DOAJ
description Background Existing study findings on firearms-related injury patterns are largely skewed towards males, who comprise the majority of this injury population. Given the paucity of existing data for females with these injuries, we aimed to elucidate the demographics, injury patterns, and outcomes of firearms-related injury in females compared with males in the USA.Materials and methods A 7-year (2013–2019) retrospective review of the National Trauma Database was conducted to identify all adult patients who suffered firearms-related injuries. Patients who were males were matched (1:1, caliper 0.2) to patients who were females by demographics, comorbidities, injury patterns and severity, and payment method, to compare differences in mortality and several other post-injury outcomes.Results There were 196 696 patients admitted after firearms-related injury during the study period. Of these patients, 23 379 (11.9%) were females, 23 378 of whom were successfully matched to a male counterpart. After matching, females had a lower rate of in-hospital mortality (18.6% vs. 20.0%, p<0.001), deep vein thrombosis (1.2% vs. 1.5%, p=0.014), and had a lower incidence of drug or alcohol withdrawal syndrome (0.2% vs. 0.5%, p<0.001) compared with males.Conclusion Female victims of firearms-related injuries experience lower rates of mortality and complications compared with males. Further studies are needed to elucidate the cause of these differences.Level of evidence Level III.
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spelling doaj-art-a282b39db1f140cab855ace3fcfe58d92025-08-20T03:42:11ZengBMJ Publishing GroupTrauma Surgery & Acute Care Open2397-57762023-11-018110.1136/tsaco-2023-001181Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) StudyShahin Mohseni0Babak Sarani1Maximilian Peter Forssten2James A Zebley3Catherine Zwemer4Susan Kartiko5Joy Dowden Hughes6Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, Department of Surgery, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAESurgery, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA3 School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Orebro, SwedenDepartment of Surgery, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USADepartment of Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USADepartment of Surgery, The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USADivision of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAEBackground Existing study findings on firearms-related injury patterns are largely skewed towards males, who comprise the majority of this injury population. Given the paucity of existing data for females with these injuries, we aimed to elucidate the demographics, injury patterns, and outcomes of firearms-related injury in females compared with males in the USA.Materials and methods A 7-year (2013–2019) retrospective review of the National Trauma Database was conducted to identify all adult patients who suffered firearms-related injuries. Patients who were males were matched (1:1, caliper 0.2) to patients who were females by demographics, comorbidities, injury patterns and severity, and payment method, to compare differences in mortality and several other post-injury outcomes.Results There were 196 696 patients admitted after firearms-related injury during the study period. Of these patients, 23 379 (11.9%) were females, 23 378 of whom were successfully matched to a male counterpart. After matching, females had a lower rate of in-hospital mortality (18.6% vs. 20.0%, p<0.001), deep vein thrombosis (1.2% vs. 1.5%, p=0.014), and had a lower incidence of drug or alcohol withdrawal syndrome (0.2% vs. 0.5%, p<0.001) compared with males.Conclusion Female victims of firearms-related injuries experience lower rates of mortality and complications compared with males. Further studies are needed to elucidate the cause of these differences.Level of evidence Level III.https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001181.full
spellingShingle Shahin Mohseni
Babak Sarani
Maximilian Peter Forssten
James A Zebley
Catherine Zwemer
Susan Kartiko
Joy Dowden Hughes
Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
title Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
title_full Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
title_fullStr Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
title_full_unstemmed Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
title_short Firearms-related injury and sex: a comparative National Trauma Database (NTDB) Study
title_sort firearms related injury and sex a comparative national trauma database ntdb study
url https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001181.full
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