Pediatric injury trends and relationships with social vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-institutional analysis

Part of COVID-19 Pandemic Impact 4 items

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Meera Kotagal

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric injury, particularly relative to a community's vulnerability, is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe the change in pediatric injury during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with prior years, focusing on intentional injury relative to the social vulnerability index (SVI). Methods: All patients younger than 18 years meeting inclusion criteria for the National Trauma Data Bank between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2020, at nine Level I pediatric trauma centers were included. The COVID cohort (children injured in the first 6 months of the pandemic) was compared with an averaged historical cohort (corresponding dates, 2016-2019). Demographic and injury characteristics and hospital-based outcomes were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds of intentional injury associated with SVI, moderated by exposure to the pandemic. Interrupted time series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average modeling was used to predict expected injury patterns. Volume trends and observed versus expected rates of injury were analyzed. Results: There were 47,385 patients that met inclusion criteria, with 8,991 treated in 2020 and 38,394 treated in 2016 to 2019. The COVID cohort included 7,068 patients and the averaged historical cohort included 5,891 patients (SD, 472), indicating a 20% increase in pediatric injury ( p = 0.031). Penetrating injuries

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Article · May 2022 · 1 min read

In brief

Multi-institutional study examining pediatric injury patterns during the first six months of COVID-19 across nine Level I trauma centers found a 20% increase in injuries compared to 2016-2019 baseline. Analysis focused on relationships between intentional injuries, penetrating trauma, and community social vulnerability index scores during the pandemic period.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.

Meera Kotagal

Statements in this article

The study included all patients younger than 18 years meeting National Trauma Data Bank inclusion criteria between January 1, 2016, and September 30, 2020, at nine Level I pediatric trauma centers.
EstablishedMethods
The COVID cohort consisted of children injured in the first 6 months of the pandemic and was compared with an averaged historical cohort from corresponding dates in 2016-2019.
EstablishedMethods
Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds of intentional injury associated with social vulnerability index, moderated by exposure to the pandemic.
EstablishedMethods
There were 47,385 patients that met inclusion criteria, with 8,991 treated in 2020 and 38,394 treated in 2016 to 2019.
ResearchResults
The COVID cohort included 7,068 patients and the averaged historical cohort included 5,891 patients (SD, 472), indicating a 20% increase in pediatric injury (p = 0.031).
ResearchResults