Intentional Injuries Research Articles

Standardized rate of hospitalization for violent injuries among different generations in counties and cities in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015.

This study aimed to understand the distribution of the standardized rate of hospitalization for violent injuries in counties and cities in Taiwan. The ICD-9 diagnosis code N-codes 995.5 (abused child) and 995.8 (abused adult) or E-code E960-E969 (homicide and intentional injury by others) were defined as research cases. The study analyzed the standardized medical treatment rate of children and adolescents aged 0 to 17, adults aged 18 to 64, and older adults over 65 years old suffering from violence for the first time. During the 15-year period, the counties and cities with the highest rate of medical treatment for violent injuries among children (unit: per 105 people) were Pingtung County (33.1 males, 22.9 females), Lienchiang County (8.8 males, 9.8 females), and New Taipei City (8.2 males, 8.8 females). For adults, Pingtung County (73.2 males, 36.8 females), New Taipei City (26.0 males, 14.3 females), and Yunlin County (19.7 males, 7.7 females) registered the highest rates. For older adults, Pingtung County (33.6 persons), New Taipei City (12.5 persons), Yun Lin County (11.2 persons), and Taichung City (9.2 persons) registered the highest rates. The highest rates of older female adults receiving treatment were recorded in Pingtung County (15.1 persons), Yunlin County (9.0 persons), Taichung City (5.5 persons), and New Taipei City (5.1 persons). With the Poisson regression model, the relative risk ratio of seeking medical care owing to violence in Pingtung County (reference: Taipei City) was 25.1 times for children, 20.1 times for adults, and 11.7 times for older adults. The counties and cities with higher rates of violent medical treatment for adults and older adults during the 15-year period were Pingtung County, New Taipei City, and Yunlin County. For children and adolescents, Pingtung County, Lienchiang County, and New Taipei City recorded the highest rates. Pingtung County had the highest risk of sexual violence. These results may be related to the local industrial structure, demographic composition, and other characteristics explained in the text.

Non-Accidental Injuries in Pediatric Primary Care: A Systematic Literature Review of Objective Assessment Tools and Trends in Gulf Cooperation Council Region.

Nonaccidental injuries (NAI) in pediatric primary care in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region refer to intentional injuries inflicted on children, usually by a caregiver or a family member. The region has seen an increase in nonaccidental injuries in recent years, and healthcare providers have a crucial role in identifying and managing the cases. The aim of research on nonaccidental injuries in pediatric primary care in the GCC region is to identify objective assessment tools and evaluate trends in the region. PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE databases were searched using search string keywords. The search was conducted on 7thFebruary 2023. The keywords included in the search included the search terms: nonaccidentalinjuries, pediatric, and GCC. All the studies were published between 1990 and 2023.The articles that passed the eligibility criteria were read fully to examine whether they would be relevant to the current systematic literature review. An initial search identified 3059 studies (Google Scholar = 6, EMBASE =12, PubMed = 4732). After the deletion of similar articles, only 3613 articles were left for further screening. The abstracts and titles of the left articles were scanned and screened to decide whether they were included in this systematic review. After deletion, 16 papers were inspected and read fully based on predefined eligibility criteria. Eventually, 11 papers were recognized and identified that passed the eligibility criteria of this systematic review. The studies reviewed in this analysis highlight the significant problem of child abuse in the GCC region, particularly neglect as the most common form of abuse. The studies also suggest that parents are the most frequent perpetrators of abuse. The need for policies and interventions to prevent child abuse and support victims is paramount.

Impact of substance-related harms on injury hospitalizations in Canada, from 2010 to 2020

Injuries continue to be a leading cause of death and contribute significantly to hospitalizations each year in Canada. Substance use has been associated with an increase in intentional and unintentional injuries, resulting in hospitalizations. This study examines trends in injury hospitalizations with a co-occurring substance diagnosis, to quantify the burden of injuries and identify at risk populations. We analyzed Discharge Abstract Database data between 2010/11 and 2020/21, for clinical and demographic information about hospital discharges across Canada. We used ICD-10 codes to identify injury hospitalizations with co-occurring substance diagnostic codes, by injury intent and substance type. Rates, proportions, age-specific rates and age-standardized rates were calculated, trends quantified using average annual percent change and results stratified by sex and age group. From 2010/11 to 2020/21, unintentional injuries accounted for over half of all substance-related injury hospitalizations. Substance-related injuries accounted for 12% of total injury hospitalizations over this period. Overall, substance-related injury hospitalizations with co-occurring use of stimulants, opioids, cannabinoids and alcohol increased significantly among males and females. Unintentional substance-related, injury hospitalizations were more common later in life, and intentional substancerelated injuries were more common among adolescents and young adults. These results highlight key demographic groups with higher rates of substance-related injury hospitalizations that would benefit from targeted prevention efforts.

When public health crises collide: 5 years of pediatric firearm injury prevention opportunities

ObjectivesPrior publications on pediatric firearm-related injuries have emphasized significant social disparities. The pandemic has heightened a variety of these societal stresses. We sought to evaluate how we must now adapt...

Hanging and Strangulation Injuries: An Institutional Review From a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center

BackgroundWe sought to define the incidence and outcomes of pediatric hanging and strangulation injuries to inform best practices for trauma triage and management. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted that included all patients who presented after hanging or strangulation to a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center from 2011 through 2021. Patient demographics, injury characteristics, and clinical outcomes were collected. All imaging modalities of the head and neck were reviewed to determine if a bony fracture or vascular injury was present. ResultsOver the 11-year study period, 128 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age of the cohort was 13 years [IQR: 8.5–15], most patients were male (60.9%), and the median GCS was 11 [3, 15]. There were 96 cases (75%) that were intentional injuries. 76 patients (59.4%) received imaging in the form of plain radiographs, CT, or MRI of the neck and cervical spine. No fractures were identified and there were 0 clinically significant cervical spine injuries. CT angiograms of the neck identified no cerebral vascular injuries. Mortality was high (32%), and 25% of patients with nonaccidental injuries had a documented prior suicide attempt. ConclusionWe identified no cervical spine fractures and no blunt cerebral vascular injuries after a hanging or strangulation in over 10 years at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Use of CT and CT angiography of the neck and cervical spine should be minimized in this patient population without high clinical index of suspicion and/or significant mechanism. Level of evidenceIV.

Workplace violence against healthcare workers using nationally representative estimates of emergency department data, 2015-2017.

Workers in the healthcare industry are at increased risk for workplace violence. The goal of this analysis is to determine the rate of injuries healthcare workers incurred as a result of intentional violence by patients in the workplace. Injuries linked to workplace violence that were treated in USemergency departments from 2015 to 2017 were identified using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Occupational Supplement (NEISS-Work). All estimates and 95% confidence intervalswere calculated using SAS® 9.4 Proc Survey to incorporate the stratified sample design of NEISS-Work. Approximately 1.14 million injuries to workers in the healthcare industry were treated in UShospital emergency departments between 2015 and 2017. Intentional injuries by another person accounted for 15% of these healthcare-related injuries. The results also showed that male healthcare workers' rate of injuries was 2.3 times higher than their female counterparts despite composing a smaller proportion of the workforce. Injury rates were highest among the less-than-25 age group, and decreased as healthcare workers' age increased. Workplace violence is a serious problem in today's healthcare settings that affects both employees and patient care. Although violence in the healthcare industry has been researched for decades, there has been an increase in violent incidents in this industrial sector. The disparity in injury rates by sex and age are areas of concern. Further research in these areas is necessary to understand the root causes of these incidents and inform violence prevention strategies.

Trends in fatal occupational injury rates among older workers before and after the Great Recession of 2008

BackgroundOlder workers experience higher rates of fatal occupational injury than younger workers worldwide. In North Carolina, the population of older workers more than doubled between 2000 and 2017. In 2008,...

Self-harm emergency department visits in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a sentinel surveillance system

BackgroundSelf-harm is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, though the prevalence tends to be highest among adolescents. As an indicator in suicide surveillance, the incidence of self-harm is useful because it is sensitive to social, environmental, and economic conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of self-harm has varied across contexts. This study aims to investigate the changes in self-harm emergency department visits in 2020 compared to a pre-pandemic period in 2018–2019.MethodsSelf-harm emergency department visits were extracted from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program database from 2018 to 2020. We compared the data in 2020 with the pre-pandemic baseline in 2018–2019. We examined the changes in volume, the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries by sex, age group, and the proportions of self-harm cases by method of injury. We also quantified the time trends of the percentages of self-harm cases among all intentional injuries using Joinpoint regression.ResultsThe overall volume of emergency visits related to self-harm was higher in 2020 during weeks 24–51 compared to the average volumes for the same weeks of 2018–2019. Percentage of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits was significantly higher by 6.1% among females (p < 0.05) and by 5.3% among males in 2020 than in 2018–2019 (p < 0.05). The 11-to-18-year age group showed an increase in the percentage of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits by 7.4% in 2020 when compared to 2018–2019. Time trend analyses showed that the percentages of self-harm among all intentional injury emergency department visits were higher during weeks 4–52 in 2020 than in 2018–2019, for both males and females.ConclusionsThe percentage of emergency department visits related to self-harm among all intentional injury visits were higher during 2020 than in 2018–2019. These results underscore the importance of continued surveillance of self-harm in Canada to better understand the sociodemographic factors affecting self-harm and to inform the prevention strategies and policies.

Temperature-related mortality in China from specific injury

Injury poses heavy burden on public health, accounting for nearly 8% of all deaths globally, but little evidence on the role of climate change on injury exists. We collect data during 2013-2019 in six provinces of China to examine the effects of temperature on injury mortality, and to project future mortality burden attributable to temperature change driven by climate change based on the assumption of constant injury mortality and population scenario. The results show that a 0.50% (95% confident interval (CI): 0.13%–0.88%) increase of injury mortality risk for each 1 °C rise in daily temperature, with higher risk for intentional injury (1.13%, 0.55%–1.71%) than that for unintentional injury (0.40%, 0.04%–0.77%). Compared to the 2010s, total injury deaths attributable to temperature change in China would increase 156,586 (37,654–272,316) in the 2090 s under representative concentration pathways 8.5 scenario with the highest for transport injury (64,764, 8,517–115,743). Populations living in Western China, people aged 15–69 years, and male may suffer more injury mortality burden from increased temperature caused by climate change. Our findings may be informative for public health policy development to effectively adapt to climate change.

Damage to the External Genitalia by Traction Following Assault and Battery at the C.H.U Gabriel Tour&amp;#233;: About a Case

Trauma to the external genitalia by tearing is rare. We report the case of a 30-year-old patient, admitted to the emergency room for trauma of the external genitalia by traction following a blow and intentional injury. The authors highlight the lesions that can occur during this type of trauma and insist on the systematic search for urethral and cavernous lesions. Conclusion: Trauma to the external genitalia by intentional assault and battery is rare in our context. They occur most often in a young person and are frequently associated with damage to the corpora cavernosa and urethra.

Criminal Litigation of Workplace Violence in Chinese Hospitals and Legal Effort to Deescalate Crimes.

Workplace violence in Chinese hospitals has increasingly attracted world attention. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of criminal litigation cases on workplace violence in Chinese hospitals at a national level and explore the influencing factors associated with the severity of workplace violence. A retrospective study was designed to analyse 507 criminal litigation cases on workplace violence in Chinese hospitals, with data extracted from the Chinese court website. The multiple ordered logistic regression model was used to analyse the impact of the potential influencing factors on the severity of workplace violence. The crimes as workplace violence in the hospitals were concentrated in East and Central China (53.9%). The most common clinical specialty involved in workplace violence was Gynecology and Obstetrics (27.8%). The first 4 types of crimes as workplace violence in the hospitals were the crime as picking quarrels and provoking trouble (26.0%), the crime as disrupting public service (20.7%), the crime as intentional injury (19.1%), and the crime as gathering people to disturb public order (15.2%). The severity of crimes as workplace violence in the hospitals was significantly associated with location (OR = 2.569, P = .013), victim type (policemen or security guards) (OR = 0.495, P = .005), more than 3 victims (OR = 2.252, P = .035), perpetrators (patients' family member) (OR = 0.491, P = .045), previous arrest (OR = 2.113, P = .024), premeditation (OR = 2.234, P = .004), and psychiatric disorders (OR = 1.911, P = .019). The number of the crimes as workplace violence in Chinese hospitals was slightly declining from 2014 to 2020. The severity of crimes as workplace violence in the hospitals was significantly associated with secondary hospitals, more than 3 victims, victim type (policemen or security guards), perpetrators (patients' family member), previous arrest, premeditation, and psychiatric disorders.

Unintentional Deaths among Adolescents in the Age Group of 10 to 19 Years: An Autopsy Study

Introduction: Adolescence is commonly regarded as a healthy time of life, with apeak in strength, speed, fitness,and many cognitive abilities. However, major shifts in health take placearound puberty as new health risks withpotentially life threatening consequences become prominent. Unnatural deaths are the leading killer of today’steenage and adolescent generation, as the patterns have changed from infections to social aetiologies during thelastdecades. The unnatural deaths may be due to unintentional or intentional injuries.Unintentional injuries aremainly accidents. Intentional injuries are mainly suicidesand homicide.Aims and Objectives: To know the type, incidence, and sex wise distribution of unintentional deaths of adolescentsin the age group of 10 – 19 years.Material Methods: Department of Forensic Medicine, BMC &amp; RI (Victoria &amp; Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospitals)is a postgraduate institute that conducts autopsies of allsudden, suspicious, unnatural deaths which occur in andaround Bengaluru. The present study is a descriptive study of unintentional unnatural death cases of Adolescents(10 to 19 years) which were autopsied at BMC &amp; RI, Bengaluru for a period of18 months from Dec. 2014 to May2016.Results: Out of 148 cases of unintentional injury, 109 cases were males (73.64%) and 39 cases were females (26.36%).Among unintentional deaths majority were due to RTA 58 cases (39.19%), Accidental Scalds /Burninjuries 30cases (20.27%), Accidental drowning 18 cases (12.16%), Electrocution 14 cases (9.45%), Accidental railway injurysustained 15 cases (10.13%), Accidental fall 11cases (7.43%), Snakebite 1case (0.67%), Blastexplosion 1case (0.67%).Conclusion: Adolescent age is an important stage in development. Death in adolescentage is a potential life lossto family and society to some extent and reflects socioeconomic and Medical Health Carestatus at the Nationaland Regional levels. Accurate legal investigations is essential increating awareness among National policymakersand educators/caregivers, to prevent adolescent deaths. To conclude useful and informative determinants ofadolescent death were identified in this study. Since there is very little information regarding adolescent death indeveloping countries like ours. This suggests that each and every center conducting autopsies should come upwith such studies to reflect the magnitude of the occurrence of unnatural adolescent deaths.

Analysis of orthopaedic injuries in CT pan scans of polytrauma patients at a quaternary academic hospital

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, doctors commonly treat patients suffering major trauma, often with multiple injuries, which necessitates the demand for a rapid diagnostic assessment. Whole body computed tomography (CT pan scan) allows for a rapid multisystem injury diagnosis. There is a scarcity of literature evaluating the extent of orthopaedic injuries in CT pan scan of polytrauma patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the local epidemiology of orthopaedic injuries in polytrauma patients who underwent a CT pan scan. METHODS: A retrospective, observational analysis, based at an academic hospital, was done of polytrauma patients who underwent a CT pan scan during a two-year period. A database was compiled by accessing the picture archiving and communication system. RESULTS: A total of 296 polytrauma patients had a reported CT pan scan; 85% were male and 15% were female with a median age of 33 years. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accidents (33.1%). A total of 1 012 injuries were identified; 196 were spinal fractures (mostly cervical), 137 were pelvic/sacral fractures, and 101 were long bone fractures of the upper and lower limbs. The most frequent non-orthopaedic injury sustained was a chest injury. In a pedestrian-vehicle accident, the most common combination of injuries was a chest injury with an associated pelvic/sacral injury. Interpersonal and intentional injuries were significantly associated with a higher risk of thoracic spine fractures (relative risk [RR] 1.8, CI 1.1-2.9), whereas road traffic accidents were significantly associated with a higher risk of scapula/clavicula fractures (RR 2.0, CI 1.2-3.5) and a higher risk of tibia/fibula fractures (RR 3.5, CI 1.2-10.3). CONCLUSION: The majority of polytrauma patients were young males involved in road traffic accidents. A patient involved in a road traffic accident is 3.5 times more likely to sustain a tibia/fibula fracture as opposed to any other fracture. One in four patients who sustained a chest injury had an associated cervical spine injury, and one in three patients had a pelvic/sacral injury, and similarly with head injuries. The findings of this study highlight injury patterns that should be anticipated in polytrauma patients. Level of evidence: Level 3

New Perspectives in Peripheral Nerve Surgery for Neuropathic Pain

Background and Aims: Neuropathic pain can occur following intentional or unintentional peripheral nerve injury. The purpose of this review was to determine in patients who have post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathic pain or required ablative mandibular operations with transection of the nerve, do those who undergo immediate or early surgical interventions, when compared to those whose nerves are not repaired or delayed, have a decreased or increased risk for resolving neuropathic pain? Methods: Two single-site and one multi-site retrospective observatory studies of patients who had neuropathic pain prior to operative treatment of the injured nerve and in patients who underwent resection of the mandible for benign or malignant disease with either no repair or immediate repair were analyzed for the presence or absence of neuropathic pain at 6 months post-surgery. The primary predictor variable in the surgical treatment of neuropathic pain pre-existing surgery was the time from injury to repair and the preoperative pain intensity rated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The primary predictor variable in the study of intentional transected nerve was the immediate repair or no repair of the nerve at the time of resection. Results: There was statistically significant difference in the primary outcome based on time from injury to repair. When the time to surgery was less than 200 days, the percentage of patients with no neuropathic pain was greater than 60%. There was a significant difference in mean VAS between those who had no neuropathic pain (6.4,SD 2.68) and those with recurrence (7.75,SD 1.95). Following mandibular resection there was statistically significant difference between the immediate repair and no repair group. Post-hoc logistic regression modeling showed an inverse relationship between the immediate repair and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain and neuropathic pain with an odd ratio &lt;1. Conclusions: In patients with neuropathic pain, earlier diagnosis and treatment, including peripheral nerve surgery, should be considered with the best outcomes when operative interventions occur within 200 days of the injury and pain intensity are mild or moderate on VAS scales. The immediate repair of an intentionally transected trigeminal nerve appears to reduce and possibly eliminate the development of neuropathic and chronic postoperative pain compared to avoiding nerve repair.

Unintentional domestic injuries among elderly in rural areas of Mandya: A community-based cross-sectional study in Southern Karnataka.

As the proportion of elderly in the population increases, they also become vulnerable to various types of intentional or unintentional injuries. Domestic accidents including falls among the elderly have been identified as a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in India and elsewhere. This study aims to assess the burden and pattern of domestic accidents in a rural part of Southern India. A community-based cross-sectional study among the elderly (≥60 years) was carried out in rural areas of Southern Karnataka. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to get the information on domestic accidents. Inferential statistical tests like the Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used. A total of 500 persons aged ≥60 years with a mean age of 69.09 ± 7.42 years (Range 60-92 years) were included. One-third of the subjects have had an incidence of domestic accidents in the past 1 year contributing to a 35% prevalence of domestic accidents. A higher prevalence of domestic accidents was seen in those subjects who were ill (47.9%). Overall prevalence of falls was 21.4% (P = 0.007). One-fifth of the subjects with domestic accidents had a residual illness. One-third of our subjects gave a history of one or the other form of domestic accidents in the previous 1 year. Our study highlights the problem of unintentional domestic injuries among the most vulnerable group of the elderly and calls for a continuous assessment of the burden and nature of injuries.

Pattern of Intentional and Non-Intentional Non-Fatal Children Injuries in Sohag City, Egypt

Pattern of Intentional and Non-Intentional Non-Fatal Children Injuries in Sohag City, Egypt

An Autopsy Study of Intentional Deaths among Adolescents in the Age Group of 10 to 19 Years in Bengaluru City

Introduction: Unnatural death means a death caused by external causes e.g., injury or poisoning which includesdeath due to intentional injury, such as homicide or suicide, and death caused by unintentional injury in anaccidental manner. The tragedy of suicide in adolescents is a global phenomenon that deserves the attention ofthe world’s pediatricians. An estimated 2 million people die each year as a result of suicide. In 2002, there werean estimated 877,000 suicides in the world, of which approximately 200,000 were adolescents and young adults.Aims and Objectives: To know the type, incidence, and sexwise distribution of intentional deaths of adolescentsin the age group of 10 to 19 years.Material Methods: The present study is a descriptive study of intentional unnatural death cases of Adolescents(10 to 19 years) which were autopsied at BMC &amp; RI, Bengaluru for a period of 18 months from December 2014 toMay 2016Results: In this study of 399 deaths among adolescents, 251 cases (62.90%) were due to intentional injuries and 148cases (37.10%) were due to unintentional injuries. Among intentional deaths 4 cases (1.60%) were homicidal and247 cases (98.40%) were suicidal in nature. In the case of homicide, all were male victims, while in suicide cases.Hanging was the most preferred method to commit suicide with 114 cases (46.15%), followed by burns in 79 cases(31.98%), poisoning in 45 cases (18.21%), drowning in 4 cases (1.61%), railway injury in 3 cases (1.21%) and 2 cases(0.80%) of fall from height.Conclusion: Accurate information on the causes and circumstances of intentional adolescent deaths througha process of medico-legal investigations is essential in creating awareness among National policymakers andeducators/caregivers, to prevent adolescent deaths.

When Patients are Assailants: Valuing Occupational Risks in Health Care

AbstractIntentional violence against healthcare workers inflicts a physical and mental toll, motivating legislative proposals to better regulate these occupational risks. This article uses this context to address two novel issues for benefit assessment raised by injuries from assailants: potential heterogeneity in valuation based on the context of the injury risk and possible reductions in self-reported valuations when the exposed population has been trained to feel responsible for the risk. This article presents experimental evidence on workers’ preferences over the form of intervention: protection (risk reduction) or insurance (cost-sharing). The experiment also elicits worker valuations of occupational health care risks, calculating the value of a statistical injury (VSI), based on local wage-risk tradeoffs, in the general range of $200,000. Workers accord a premium to risk reductions that might eliminate the risk of injuries. Both the physical harm and the process by which the injury occurs may affect benefit assessments for the regulation of workplace violence. Non-healthcare participants require a $40,000 premium per expected injury resulting from intentional harm. While health care workers do not generally require such a premium, health care workers in clinical positions require more compensation to face occupational risks. Insurance coverage for monetary losses is more highly valued than protective measures for accidental harms, though there is no significant comparable preference for insurance against intentional harms. The results have important practical implications for addressing the concerning phenomenon of violence against healthcare workers, suggesting that expanding insurance compensation would be desirable, as would assigning an intentionality premium to intentional injuries.

Epidemiological Aspects of Suicide in the East Kazakhstan Region

Objective: To study the trends of mortality from intentional self-harm in the East Kazakhstan region.Methods. The main sources of information were the materials of the state registration of the deceased as a whole from intentional self–harm (ICD 10 - X60-84) for 2004-2013. Materials related to the East Kazakhstan region were analyzed. A retrospective study using descriptive and analytical methods of modern epidemiology was used as the main method in the study of mortality from intentional self-harm.Results. In 2004-2013, 38,276 cases of intentional injuries were registered in Kazakhstan, of which only 5998 (15.7%) suicides occurred in the East Kazakhstan region. The average age of those who died from suicide was 40.4±0.5 years. The average annual crude mortality rates from intentional self–harm among both sexes amounted to 42.2±2.40/0000 (95%CI=37.5-47.0). In dynamics, the crude mortality rate for both sexes decreased, and the average annual rate of decline was T=−5.0%. Age-sex differences in suicide mortality rates were revealed. The analysis of age-related mortality rates from intentional self-harm in both sexes in the studied region showed a unimodal increase with a peak in the age group of 30-49 years.Conclusion. The analysis of mortality from suicide showed that in the East Kazakhstan region, mortality is decreasing significantly. The data obtained make it possible to monitor trends and changes in suicide mortality. This helps to assess the effectiveness of measures to reduce the risk of suicide and adjust strategies and programs depending on changing conditions.Keywords: suicides, age and gender characteristics, epidemiology, trends, East Kazakhstan region

Hospital discharges for substance-related injuries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive surveillance study using administrative data.

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated behavioural changes have contributed to an increase in substance-related hospital discharges, and has altered the injury epidemiology landscape in Canada. We sought to evaluate hospital discharges for substance-related injuries during the pandemic compared with prepandemic and to identify subpopulations that have been greatly affected by substance-related injuries during the first year of the pandemic. We compared data on hospital discharges in Canada from before the pandemic (March 2019-February 2020) with discharges during the first year of the pandemic (March 2020-February 2021) using the Discharge Abstract Database. We identified discharges for substance-related injuries using codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. We calculated percent changes, age-standardized rates and age-specific rates of discharges for substance-related injuries. Hospital discharges for substance-related injuries increased by 7.1% during the first year of the pandemic. Discharges for intentional injuries decreased by 6.3%, whereas unintentional substance-related injuries increased by 15.1% during this period. Male patients accounted for 95.6% of the increase in hospital discharges for substance-related injuries during the first year of the pandemic. We observed a percent increase among discharges for injuries related to alcohol, opioid, cannabinoid, hallucinogen, tobacco, volatile solvents, other psychoactive substances and polysubstance use. We observed an increase in hospital discharges for substance-related injuries during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with the same time period before the pandemic. This work will provide useful insight into the ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as future policy and health care planning related to substance use in Canada.