A review of serious injury and death from gunshot wounds in Sweden: 1987 to 1994

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, range and causes of injury, medical c onsequences, and mortality of patients with gunshot wounds (GSW) in Sweden. Design: Retrospective case study. Setting: The Swedish Hospital National Discharge Register (SNHDR). Subjects: 1559 patients with gunshot wounds, in all 2394 episodes treated i n Swedish hospitals from 1987-1994. Interventions: Statistical analysis of the Register. Main outcome measures: Incidence of GSW in Sweden, mortality, range of inju ries and medical consequences. Results: From 1987 to 1994 a total of 1559 people were admitted to Swedish hospitals with GSW, which corresponds to 2.3 injuries/100000 population/yea r. In all, 2394 episodes were treated in hospitals. There were 1373 men (88 %) and 186 women (12%). with a median age of 29 years (range 1-92). Of thes e, 990 were recorded as accidents (63%), 257 as suicides (16%), 174 as atte mpted murder (11%), and 138 as of "unknown cause" (9%). The annual incidenc e of GSW in Sweden was relatively constant during this period. The total nu mber of deaths in our series of patients was ill (7%), including 74 suicide s, 16 accidents, 14 homicides, and 7 of "unknown cause". Among these, 53% h ad a head injury, 11% thoracic, and 8% abdominal injuries. Compared with ot her countries in the world, the incidence of GSW in Sweden is comparable wi th New Zealand and Finland, but lower than in the USA. Injuries to extremit ies were most common, followed by injuries to the head and neck. Thirty per cent of all those admitted to hospital required more than one week in hospi tal. Conclusions: The incidence of GSW is low in Sweden, and they are mainly cau sed by accidents or attempted suicide. Injuries to the extremities were mos t common, followed by injuries to the head and neck. Two thirds of the pati ents left hospital within a week. Seven percent of patients treated for GSW in hospital died.