TRENDS IN FIREARM-RELATED INJURIES IN WASHINGTON-STATE, 1989-1995

Study objectives: To describe the incidence and outcome of firearm-rel ated injuries and to describe trends over time. Design: Information ab out firearm-related injuries in Washington state was extracted from co mputerized death certificate and hospital discharge files for the peri od 1989 through 1995. Cases seen only in emergency departments were es timated using initial results from a statewide firearm injury surveill ance system. Results: An estimated 9,995 persons were shot during the 7-year period (incidence 28.0/100,000 person-years); 2,944 persons (29 %) required ED care only, 2,864 persons (29%) were hospitalized and su rvived, and 4,187 persons (42%) died. Survival was lowest for suicide attempts (11%), intermediate for assaults (68%), and greatest for unin tentional shootings (96%). Most deaths (91%) occurred before hospital admission. From 1989 to 1995, the incidence of firearm-related injurie s showed little change: an increase of 4.5%. However, suicidal shootin gs among persons younger than 35 years increased by 31.3%, and the inc idence of firearm related assaults rose by 53.7% among persons of all ages. Survival among all persons who were shot and among hospitalized shooting victims showed little change over time. Conclusion: Firearm-r elated suicides among the young and assault-related shootings among al l persons increased. The estimated proportion of shooting victims who survived did not change over time.