Abstract
Introduction
Gun violence continues to escalate in America's urban areas. Peer groups of gun wound
victims are potential targets for violence prevention initiatives; identification
of this cohort is pivotal to efficient deployment strategies. We hypothesize a specific
age at which the incidence of penetrating trauma increases significantly in adolescence,
below which should be the focus on future trauma prevention.
Methods
Adolescent trauma patients with gunshot wounds seen from July 2011 through June 2021
at a well-established, urban, academic level 1 trauma center were reviewed retrospectively
and grouped by age. A linear regression and repeated measured analysis of variance
evaluated the change in gunshot wound victims over this time, grouped by age. Demographics
were extrapolated, and standard statistical analysis was performed.
Results
A total of 1304 adolescent trauma patients were included. Those aged 15 y and under
had an unchanged incidence of gunshot wounds. However, those aged 16 y and more experienced
the majority of increased gun violence; 92% were Black and 90% were male with a mortality
of 12%. Adolescents aged 15 y and below were 95% Black and 84% male, with a mortality
of 18%.
Conclusions
Primary prevention efforts to mitigate gun violence should be focused on adolescents
below 16 y of age. Prevention of gun violence should include community outreach efforts
directed toward middle school-aged children and younger, hoping to decrease the incidence
of injury due to gun violence in older adolescents in the future.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 06, 2022
Accepted:
October 17,
2022
Received in revised form:
October 3,
2022
Received:
March 3,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
