Using State Hospitalization Databases to Improve Firearm Injury Data-A Step in the Right Direction

This cross-sectional study uses data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System to assess the annual incidence of hospitalization for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in New York overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, county of residence, and calendar year from 2005 to 2016.
Key Points Question What was the annual incidence of hospitalization for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in New York from 2005 to 2016? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 31 060 patients with 35 059 hospital encounters for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in New York from 2005 to 2016, the overall annual incidence of hospitalization for nonfatal firearm-related injuries was 18.4 per 100 000 population. The annual incidence of these injuries in the state decreased during the study period, but this trend was not observed in all counties. Meaning These findings may be useful for policy makers and public health officials as they consider resource allocation for trauma systems and injury prevention programs.
Importance In the US, approximately 40 000 people die due to firearm-related injuries annually. However, nonfatal firearm-related injuries are less precisely tracked. Objectives To assess the annual incidence of hospitalization for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in New York and to compare the annual incidence by sex, race/ethnicity, county of residence, and calendar years. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cross-sectional study used data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System for patients aged 15 years or older who presented to an emergency department in New York with nonfatal firearm-related injuries from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2016. Data were analyzed from January 15, 2019, to April 21, 2021. Exposure A nonfatal firearm-related injury, defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Main Outcomes and Measures The annual incidence of nonfatal firearm-related injuries was calculated by determining the number of patients with a nonfatal firearm-related injury each year divided by the total population of New York. Results The study included 31 060 unique patients with 35 059 hospital encounters for nonfatal firearm-related injuries. The mean (SD) age at admission was 28.5 (11.9) years; most patients were male (90.6%) and non-Hispanic Black individuals (62.0%). The overall annual incidence was 18.4 per 100 000 population. Although decreasing trends of annual incidence were observed across the state during the study period, this trend was not present in all 62 counties, with 32 counties (51.6%) having an increase in the incidence of injuries between 2005 and 2010 and 29 (46.8%) having an increase in the incidence of injuries between 2010 and 2015. In 19 of the 30 counties (63.3%) that had a decrease in incidence in earlier years, the incidence increased in later years. Conclusions and Relevance The annual incidence of hospitalization for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in New York during the study period was 18.4 per 100 000 population. Reliable tracking of nonfatal firearm-related injury data may be useful for policy makers, hospital systems, community organizers, and public health officials as they consider resource allocation for trauma systems and injury prevention programs.