Racial disparities persist in mortality after firearm assault injuries: A national analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database.

Abstract

Objectives: It is unclear whether improvements in the delivery of trauma care over the last decade have diminished racial disparities in mortality after firearm injuries.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program was queried for patients (≥18 years old) who experienced penetrating firearm assault injuries between 2008 and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between mortality and race, controlling for demographics, comorbidities, shock index, injury severity score injury location, and hospital characteristics.

Results: This retrospective cohort study included 261,116 patients who experienced firearm injuries secondary to assault between 2008 and 2018. Patients most frequently identified as Black (64.1%, n = 167,494), followed by White (16.3%, n = 42,649), Hispanic/Latino (15.7%, n = 41,044), and other racial groups (3.8%, n = 9,929). On multivariable logistic regression, Black patients (odds ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-1.62), and Hispanic/Latino patients (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.19) were more likely to die after a firearm assault injury than White patients. Black patients were more likely to die in the emergency department (62.2%, n = 13,438) compared with White patients (52.7%, n = 2,838), Hispanic/Latino patients (53.0%, n = 2,635), and patients of other races (54.8%, n = 681). Across all years of the study period, Black patients had a greater risk-adjusted mortality rate than White patients and Hispanic/Latino patients.

Conclusion: Significant racial disparities in mortality after firearm assault continue to persist. Early death within the emergency department appears to be a significant driver of these persistent disparities.