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Abstract Background Detergent packets are common household products; however, they pose a risk of injuries and poisonings, especially among children. This study examined the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric injuries and poisonings related to all types of detergent packets in Canada using emergency department (ED) data from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) database. Methods The CHIRPP database was searched for ED visit records for injuries and poisonings related to all types of detergent packets between April 1, 2011 and October 12, 2023 (N = 2,021,814) using variable codes and narratives. Data for individuals aged 17 years and younger were analyzed descriptively. Temporal trends in the number of detergent packet-related injuries and poisonings per 100,000 CHIRPP cases were assessed using Joinpoint regression and annual percent change (APC). A proportion ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the proportion of detergent packet-related cases in CHIRPP during two 34-months periods, pre-COVID-19 pandemic and after the beginning of the pandemic. Results There were 904 detergent packet-related cases among children and youth aged 17 years and younger identified in CHIRPP between April 1, 2011 and October 12, 2023, representing 59.9 cases per 100,000 CHIRPP cases. The majority (86.5%) of cases were among children aged 4 years and younger. Poisonings (58.8%) and eye injuries (30.6%) were the most frequent primary diagnoses. Unintentional ingestion (56.9%) and squeezing/breaking a detergent packet (32.3%) were the most frequent exposure mechanisms. Sixty-five patients (7.2%) were admitted to hospital. The number of detergent packet-related cases per 100,000 CHIRPP cases increased by 5.0% (95% CI 0.8, 10.2) annually between 2012 and 2022. The number of detergent packet-related poisonings per 100,000 CHIRPP cases decreased by 15.3% (95% CI − 22.3, − 10.6) annually between 2015 and 2022, whereas eye injuries showed an average annual percent increase of 16.6% (95% CI 11.2, 23.0) between 2012 and 2022. The proportion of detergent packet-related cases in CHIRPP after the beginning of the pandemic (79.9/100,000 CHIRPP cases) was 1.43 (95% CI 1.20, 1.71) times greater than pre-pandemic (55.7/100,000 CHIRPP cases). Conclusions Detergent packet-related injuries and poisonings are a persisting issue. Continued surveillance and prevention efforts are needed to reduce detergent packet-related injuries and poisonings in Canada, particularly among children and youth.

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. TBI is often associated with other physical or psychological issues resulting in high hospitalization costs. TBI incidence and recovery can vary with the external cause being intentional or unintentional. It is important to monitor the rates of TBI hospitalizations related to different external causes. This study examined the annual rate, comorbidity and length of stay associated with assault-related TBI hospitalizations and compare it with other external causes, by age and sex in Canada from 2010 to 2021. Methods Discharge Abstract Database was used to extract cases of TBI (2010–2021). ICD-10-CA codes were used to classify all cases with TBI as per assault and other external causes (falls; transport; sport, physical activity and recreation; struck by). Additional variables, including age, sex, comorbidity and length of stay, were examined. Time trends were quantified using Joinpoint regression. Results The average annual percent increase for all TBI hospitalizations from 2010 to 2021 was not significant at 0.1%. Females accounted for 35.8% of these TBI hospitalizations. From 2010 to 2021, assault-related TBI hospitalizations showed a significant annual decline of 4.1% for males and a significant increase of 1.2% for females. Increase in TBI hospitalizations related to falls showed an average annual percent increase of 1.4% for males and 2.2% for females. A significant decrease was observed for TBI hospitalizations related to the other three (transport, SPAR and struck by) external causes for both sexes from 2010 to 2021. Infants and children under 10 years of age had higher percentages of cases with comorbidities and higher length of stay for assault-related TBI hospitalizations. Conclusions Assault-related TBI hospitalization rates decreased overall and among males, rates among females increased from 2010 to 2021. These results underscore the importance of targeted prevention efforts for TBI related to different external causes, age and sex, and continued surveillance to monitor the epidemiology of assault-related TBI.

Abstract Background Firearms are a substantial cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in Canada and globally, though evidence from contexts other than the USA is relatively limited. We examined deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits due to firearm-related injuries in Canada to identify population groups at increased risk of fatal and non-fatal outcomes. Methods We conducted a population-based study using three national administrative databases on deaths, hospitalizations, and ED visits. ICD-10 codes were used to identify firearm-related injuries from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020. Fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were classified as suicide/self-harm, homicide/assault, unintentional, undetermined or legal intervention injuries. We analyzed the data with counts, rates and proportions, stratified by sex, age group, province/territory, and year. Results Over the 5-year period, we identified 4005 deaths, 3169 hospitalizations, and 2847 ED visits related to firearm injuries in various jurisdictions in Canada. Males comprised the majority of fatal and non-fatal injury cases. The highest rates of fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were among 20- to 34-year-olds. The leading cause of fatal firearm injuries was self-harm (72.3%). For non-fatal firearm hospitalizations and ED visits, assault (48.8%) and unintentional injuries (62.8%) were the leading causes of injury. Rates varied by province and territory. Conclusions Our results showed that males comprised the majority of fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries in Canada. The rates of both fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries were highest among the 20- to 34-year-old age group. This comprehensive overview of the epidemiology of firearm injuries in Canada provides baseline data for ongoing surveillance and policy evaluation related to public health interventions.

Abstract Background Self-harm is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, though the prevalence tends to be highest among adolescents. As an indicator in suicide surveillance, the incidence of self-harm is useful because it is sensitive to social, environmental, and economic conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of self-harm has varied across contexts. This study aims to investigate the changes in self-harm emergency department visits in 2020 compared to a pre-pandemic period in 2018–2019. Methods Self-harm emergency department visits were extracted from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program database from 2018 to 2020. We compared the data in 2020 with the pre-pandemic baseline in 2018–2019. We examined the changes in volume, the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries by sex, age group, and the proportions of self-harm cases by method of injury. We also quantified the time trends of the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries using Joinpoint regression. Results The overall volume of emergency visits related to self-harm was higher in 2020 during weeks 24–51 compared to the average volumes for the same weeks of 2018–2019. Percentage of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits was significantly higher by 6.1% among females (p