Study: EDs treated more than 704,000 firearm injuries over decade

More than 704,000 people arrived alive at a hospital emergency department for treatment of a firearm-related injury between 2006 and 2014, resulting in an annual financial burden of $2.8 billion in ED and inpatient charges, according to a study published yesterday in Health Affairs. Half of the patients were injured in an assault and 35% unintentionally. About four in 10 were admitted for inpatient care, and 8% died in the ED or hospital. Firearm injuries were nine-fold higher among male than female patients and highest among males aged 20-24. Firearms are the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States. According to a recent report by Milliman prepared for the AHA, community violence cost U.S. hospitals and health systems an estimated $2.7 billion in 2016.