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In a troubling trend, firearm-related hospitalizations increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing years of steady decline, according to a recent study by the University of Michigan. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, found a sharp rise in the number of individuals hospitalized for firearm injuries in 2020 and 2021, compared to pre-pandemic trends.
The study revealed a startling 34% increase in firearm-related hospitalizations during the two years of the pandemic. This surge was notably more pronounced among specific groups: patients under the age of 18, those covered by Medicaid, and Black individuals. Hospitalizations in these categories were 44%, 46%, and 41% higher, respectively, than what would have been predicted based on data from 2015-2019.
Key Findings:
- Overall Increase: The number of people hospitalized for firearm injuries in 2020 and 2021 was 34% higher than expected based on pre-pandemic data.
- Vulnerable Groups: Hospitalization rates increased disproportionately among children, low-income individuals, and Black Americans.
- Impact of Gun Sales: The study found a significant association between rising firearm sales and increased hospitalizations, although the researchers could not directly link the two.
Raymond Jean, M.D., M.H.S., a trauma surgeon at Michigan Medicine and lead author of the study, expressed concern over the sustained rise in firearm-related injuries. “Taken together, our findings raise new concerns about the sustained increase in firearm-related injury, and in particular the disproportionate increase in younger, low-income, and Black individuals,” Jean said.
The researchers utilized national hospitalization data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project to create a model of expected firearm hospitalizations. By comparing these predictions with actual hospitalization data, they uncovered the sharp increase in injuries during the pandemic.
Interestingly, certain groups, such as those aged 55 and older and those insured by Medicare, saw smaller increases, though the rates still rose within these populations. Despite fluctuations in firearm hospitalizations and sales over the years, the data showed a clear upward trajectory starting in the summer of 2020, aligning with the surge in firearm sales during the early months of the pandemic.
The study, however, has some limitations. It does not account for individuals who died from gunshot wounds before reaching the hospital, those treated at emergency departments without being admitted, or those who did not seek medical care. The researchers also could not track the specific locations or causes of the injuries, limiting the scope of their findings.
While the study provides important insight, Dr. Jean hopes it will serve as a catalyst for further research into firearm-related injuries and deaths. “I have seen firsthand what bullets can do to the human body, and worked to save the lives of those who have survived long enough to reach the operating room,” he added. “That drives my interest in understanding the scope of this issue and trends over time, through advanced data tools.”
This study’s findings underscore the urgent need for policies to address the rising incidence of firearm-related injuries and deaths, including suicides, interpersonal violence, and accidental shootings.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings are based on data available up to 2021 and may not reflect current trends or changes since the pandemic. The authors of the study caution that the data does not account for all factors, including state-level laws, social unrest, and the specific causes of firearm-related injuries.
