The uprise of gun violence in the United States: consequences of a dual pandemic

Abstract

Purpose of reviewThe global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) viral outbreak and the rise of the anti-Black racism movement have produced a dual pandemic over the past few years, which has been associated with a dramatic rise in gun violence across the United States. This comprehensive review was performed to examine the current levels of gun violence in the context of these dual pandemics, delineate factors which have synergistically produced this surge in interpersonal violence, and propose future directions.Recent findingsDual pandemics have mutually contributed to a worsening in many social determinants of health and thereby have had a particularly dramatic impact on many of our most vulnerable patients, including patients of minority races and ethnicities, in terms of interpersonal violence. Firearm injuries are at their highest rate in decades. The challenges in the trauma care of these patients have been compounded by staffing and resource shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic and attrition of medical workers related to burnout.SummaryConsequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-Black racism movement have produced a social environment in the United States in recent years where interpersonal violence, especially firearm injuries, have surged. Particularly, during a time of challenged patient care delivery, the medical system struggles to support the increase in trauma volume. A broad approach to improving social determinants of health should be pursued in order to decrease the risk of gun violence from the recent near-historical high levels.

Trends in Legal Firearm Transactions: A Possible Protective Role of Gun Law Strength

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Understanding the Impact of Trauma Admissions to Nonsurgical Services

“…In conclusion, with the increase in geriatric trauma anticipated based on the aging demographic of the American population, the lack of negative effect from NSA observed in this study is encouraging. Especially in the current context of a dramatic rise in interpersonal violence across the country concurrent with the COVID-19 pandemic, 11 NSA may be an important way to offload busy trauma services in clinical scenarios where it can be accomplished safely and with the delivery of high-quality care. Based on our study findings, elderly patients with low-energy mechanisms such as GLF who sustain catastrophic head injuries may be especially amenable to NSA.…”

Transarterial Interventions in Civilian Gunshot Wound Injury: Experience from a Level-1 Trauma Center

“…However, compared to blunt trauma and non-GSW penetrating injuries, high energy bullet ballistics are complex, and multiple vessels can be damaged in a less predictable pattern [7][8][9] . These injuries are associated with higher morbidity and mortality and the at risk population in the United States differs signi cantly compared to those being treated for blunt trauma [10][11][12][13] . Currently, there is a complete absence of reported studies on endovascular series interventions in GSW, and their role remains wholly unde ned with most treatment algorithms using anecdotal evidence or extrapolating from blunt trauma.…”