208988 Gun-shot injuries in Nebraska: Urban and rural differences

Monday, November 9, 2009

Lina Lander, ScD , Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Ming Qu, PhD , Division of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, NE
Xiaojuan Mi , Division of Public Health, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, NE
Robert Muelleman, MD , Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Background/Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gun-shot injuries in Nebraska and to compare urban and rural gun-shot injuries.

Methods

The 2002-2006 Nebraska Hospital Discharge Data were analyzed to select records with gun-shot injuries (ICD-9-CM Diagnosis codes: E9220-E9223, E9228, E9229, E9550-E9554, E9650- E9654, E970, E9794, E9850-E9854).

Results

There were a total of 1108 records of gun-shot injuries 2002- 2006, of these 363 (33%) were hospitalizations and 733 (66%) emergency department visits. Males were involved in 86% of injuries. There were 735 (66%) injuries in urban metro area, 143 (13%) in urban non-metro, 137 (12%) in rural-large, and 90 (8%) in rural-small areas.

The distribution of intent differed significantly between urban -metro and the other 3 regions (adjusted p<0.001), with urban-metro having higher rate of homicides (n=386, 53%). Unintentional injuries were the most prevalent in other regions: urban non-metro (n=90, 63%), rural-large (n=90, 63%), and urban- small (n=90, 63%).

Forty-nine percent of injuries occurred in 15-24 year-olds (urban-metro (n=412, 56%), urban non-metro (n=54, 38%), rural-large (n=50, 37%), and rural-small (n=32, 36%)). The mean hospital charges for firearm-related injuries increased from $14882 per admission in 2002 to $35505 per admission in 2006.

Conclusions

There were significant differences between urban and rural gun-shot injuries 2002-2006. Large majority of injuries occurred in young adults and the intent varied significantly by region with urban-metro having the highest proportion of homicides compared to other regions.

Learning Objectives:
To describe the types of gun-shot injuries and compare urban and rural gun-shot injuries in Nebraska

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I reviewed data analyses and wrote the abstract
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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