The cost of hospitalizations for firearm-related injuries exceeded $1.05 billion in 2019, according to a recent study.
The study, published Oct. 8 in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, analyzed data from the 2019 Kids' Inpatient Database, the largest all-payer pediatric inpatient claims dataset. Researchers at the Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania identified nearly 6,000 children under 21 who were hospitalized for firearm-related injuries across 48 states. Of those, 5,600 survived their injuries.
Three key findings:
1. Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.
2. Black children are disproportionately hospitalized for assaults, while white children are overrepresented in hospitalizations for gun-related suicide attempts.
3. Children with significant treatment burdens — particularly those requiring invasive medical devices such as tracheostomies and feeding tubes — made up about 3% of hospitalizations but accounted for 13% of total hospital costs.
"The study's findings can lead pediatricians to engage in discussions around proven interventions and preventative measures, such as safe storage and gun locks—much like they do with bike helmets to prevent concussions and other brain injuries," lead author and senior fellow Nadir Yehya, MD, said in a Feb. 10 University of Pennsylvania news release.