Characteristics of interpersonal assault injuries at a referral academic trauma center during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Violence is a pervasive and complex issue that manifests in various forms and contexts, impacting individuals, families, communities, and societies worldwide. Also, it considered a global health problem and is responsible for 10% of all injury-related deaths and Disability Life Years lost. A variety of factors may affect the severity and pattern of injuries. People who are more likely to engage in fights or violence may exhibit certain risk factors or characteristics that contribute to their behavior.Objective: this study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of non-fatal violence-related injuries in adult victims.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients with trauma of violence admitted to Hasheminejad Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, from March 2020 to March 2021 were included. In this study, violence is considered any intentional physical act directed toward another person, and declared by patients, Emergency Medicine Services providers, Police reports, or legal guardians. Pediatric patients and patients with incomplete file data were excluded from the study. Collected data included sex, age, initial hospital vital signs, mechanism of injury, characteristics of injury, interventions needed, and the outcome. We used the student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test to compare the variables in the two groups. A P value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 299 entered the analysis. The majority of the cases were male (n=246, 82.3%). The mean age was 30.06±12.99 years. The initial mean pulse rate was 96.25±17.54, and the mean±SD Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) of 124.80±18.42 mmHg was reported. Results showed that head and neck were more frequently injured among both genders (men = 115, 46.7% vs. women = 20, 37.7%). Moreover, injuries caused by sharp objects were more frequent among male victims (n= 102, 42%). The rate of using sharp objects (e.g. knife) in men has been significantly higher than in women (men=102, women=8, p<0.001). Only one death case was reported. In terms of age, the analysis showed that the mean age of men and women was 29.17±12.78 and 34.29±13.29, respectively, which was significantly higher in women.Conclusion: This study highlights the sex and age differences of non-fatal violence-related injuries. Men got more involved in interpersonal violence cases than women. While men were victims of sharp objects, women were more likely to be injured by blunt traumas. In terms of age, female victims were significantly older than male victims. Head and neck were reported to be the most injured site of the body.

Keywords

• violence
• trauma
• covid-19
• emergency department