Kids who suffer nonfatal gunshot wounds have increased future health risks, study says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A recent study found that children who suffer nonfatal gunshot wounds end up with significantly increased health risks in the year following the injury compared to children without a firearm injury.

The study was conducted by Kelsey Gastineau, MD, MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, along with other researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina and George Washington School of Medicine and Health Science.

“We’ve seen firearm injuries in youth dramatically climb over the last few years, wreaking havoc on the lives of children and families,” Gastineau said. “Our study helps quantify this devastation to inform the urgent need for solutions.”

The study found more than 2,100 youth with nonfatal gunshot wounds and compared them with similar youth who were uninjured. Those with gunshot wounds had:

A 5.31-fold increased risk of inpatient hospitalization.
A 1.49-fold increased risk of emergency room visits.
A 1.06-fold increased risk of outpatient visits.

Gastineau said that pediatric firearm injuries add a significant economic and societal burden. The study also found that following initial hospitalization, 50% of youth are discharged with some sort of disability.

Be sure to click here for more from this study.