Are times getting tougher? A six year survey of urban violence related XXXX in a Swiss university hospital.

@entity1 @entity542 @entity2613 @entity130
QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Injuries due to interpersonal violence are a worldwide public health problem. In Switzerland, interpersonal violence seems to be an increasing problem in emergency departments (EDs) and is a topic of keen public debate. The primary objective of the current study is to describe our experience of interpersonal violence-related @entity2613 visits over a six-year period. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records using the @entity2613 electronic @entity1 database (Qualicare, Qualidoc Bern). Demographics, diagnosis, length of stay, @entity2613 and hospital charges were compared for each year. RESULTS: From 1.1.2001 to 31.12.2006 we treated a total of 1190 @entity1 injured in interpersonal violence. 1064 (89%) were males and 126 (11%) females. The mean age was 27 years (SD 10). 752 @entity1 (63%) were Swiss citizens and 438 (37%) non-Swiss. 853 @entity1 (71%) were employed and only 73 (6%) were unemployed in 2006. There was an increase from 155 @entity1 in 2001 to 275 in 2006. Compared to 2001 there was an increase in cases over weekends. 796 @entity1 (78%) were discharged within 24 hours of @entity130 (12%) were kept for more than 24 hours. @entity542 and extremities were the most frequent. The leading cause of injury was blunt instruments (96%). The median cost of initial treatment per @entity1 admitted increased from CHF 1100 (IQR 5, 4900) in 2002 to CHF 5000 (IQR 3100, 7300) in 2006. DISCUSSION: There has been no significant change in @entity1 ' age nor a shift in the nationality of @entity1 over the past 6 years There has been a notable increase in @entity1 needing hospitalisation, principally due to a rise in serious @entity542 , a factor contributing to a impressive increase in costs per @entity1 . The data presented here are intended as a basis for further research in the field of violence and prevention throughout Switzerland.
