Trends in weapon-related injuries from violence in Odense Municipality, Denmark 1991-2009

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the development in incidence rates and the severity of weapon-related physical interpersonal violence in Odense Municipality, Denmark from 1991 to 2009.

METHODS: All victims of physical interpersonal violence with weapon-related injuries treated at the Emergency Department in the 1991-2009 period at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, and/or subjected to medico-legal autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in the 1991-2009 period at the University of Southern Denmark were included. Incidence rates were estimated following stratification by gender and age. The development in the incident rates was examined.

RESULTS: Overall, 2,957 victims were included. The overall incidence rate was 8.5 per 10,000 population/year (14.6 and 2.7 for males and females, respectively). The rates did not change significantly in the study period. Most victims were injured with bottles/glass and blunt weapons (44.8% versus 28.2%), whereas 24% were injured with sharp weapons and 3% with firearms. Most lesions were sustained to the head/neck (56.1%) and to the upper limbs (26.2%). A total of 182 (6.1%) victims had lesions that were considered severe. The mortality rate was 4.8 per 1,000 victims in males and 29.1 per 1,000 victims in females. More than half (57%) of the homicides were caused by lesions due to sharp weapons.

CONCLUSION: Weapon-related injuries are rare in the Odense Municipality. The incidence rate of weapon-related violence did not increase in the study period. Additionally, no evidence of an increased proportion of severe injuries was found. Women had a seven-fold higher mortality than males.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.