Abusive Head Injuries among Arizona Infants and Young Children, 2004-2011 Resources for the development of this report were provided through funding to the Arizona Department of Health Services from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cooperative Agreement 5U17CE002023-01, Core Violence and Injury Prevention Program. Permission to quote from or reproduce materials from this publication is granted when acknowledgment is made. Prepared by: Brenna Rabel, MPH Marla Dedrick, BSW, M.Ed., MA th 150 North 18 Avenue, Suite 320 Phoenix, AZ 85007 Injury Prevention Program Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health Arizona Department of Health Services December, 2012 1 Abusive head injury fatalities were identified in Arizona’s Child Fatality Review annual reports. Non-fatal hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to abusive head injuries (shaken infant or shaken impact syndrome) were identified using methods from a study conducted by Dias et al. (2005).1 Infants and children under the age of two years with a code for shaken infant syndrome (995.55) in any diagnostic fields were included. Additionally, cases with a diagnostic code for skull fracture or intracranial injury (800-804.9), retinal hemorrhage (362.81), or intracranial hemorrhage (853.0, 853.1) with an external cause of injury code for known or suspected homicide/assault (E960-E968 and E980-E989) were included. In the study by Dias and colleagues (2005), all suspected cases of abusive head injury were reviewed in detail by a multidisciplinary medical team to confirm the nature of the inflicted injuries. For this report on abusive head injury in Arizona during 2004-2011, the number of non-fatal hospitalizations represents an estimate because an extensive review of medical records was not done. 2004 In 2004, there were 29 non-fatal hospitalizations. Sixty-two percent were males (n=18) and 38 percent were females (n=11). The children spent a total of 292 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 10 days. The hospital charges totaled $1,459,354, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (69 percent, n=20). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $72,967. There were also two emergency department visits due to abusive head injuries. According to the 12 th Annual Child Fatality Review Program Report, there were three confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2004.2 2005 In 2005, there were 34 non-fatal hospitalizations. Sixty-two percent were males (n=21) and 38 percent were females (n=13). The children spent a total of 298 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 8.8 days. The hospital charges totaled $1,526,626, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (76 percent, n=26). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $58,716. There were also six emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the 13th Annual Child Fatality Review Program Report, there were three confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2005.2 2006 There were 22 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2006. Sixty-four percent were males (n=14) and 36 percent were females (n=8). The children stayed a total of 244 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 11 days. The hospital charges totaled $1,630,998, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (68 percent, n=15). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the 1 2 Dias MS, Smith K, deGuehery K, et al. Preventing Abusive Head Trauma among Infants and Young Children: A Hospital-Based, Parent Education Program. Pediatrics. 2005;115:e470-e477. Arizona Child Fatality Review Program: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/cfr.htm 2 expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $108,733. There were five emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the 14th Annual Child Fatality Review Program Report, there were nine confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2006.2 2007 There were 22 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2007. Fifty-five percent were males (n=12) and 45 percent were females (n=10). The children stayed a total of 248 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 11 days. The hospital charges totaled $1,566,940, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (68 percent, n=15). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $80,312. There were six emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the Child Fatality Review Program, there were 11 confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2007.2 2008 There were 42 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2008. Sixty-two percent were males (n=26) and 38 percent were females (n=16). The children stayed a total of 492 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 12 days. The hospital charges totaled $3,664,454, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (71 percent, n=30). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $70,210. There were four emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the Child Fatality Review Program, there were five confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2008, and two confirmed cases of abusive head trauma where shaking could not be confirmed. 2009 There were 62 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2009. Sixty-one percent were males (n=38) and 39 percent were females (n=24). The children stayed a total of 476 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 8 days. The hospital charges totaled $4,241,327, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (77 percent, n=48). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $44,932. There were eight emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the Child Fatality Review Program, there were seven confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2009, and four confirmed cases of abusive head trauma where shaking could not be confirmed. 2010 There were 29 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2010, representing a sharp decrease from 2009. Forty-five percent were males (n=13) and 55 percent were females (n=16). The children stayed a total of 220 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 8 days (median= 4 days). The hospital charges totaled $2,256,718, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (86 percent, n=25). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $77,929 (median=$27,389). There were nine emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to the Child Fatality 3 Review Program, there were four confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2010, and four confirmed cases of abusive head trauma where shaking could not be confirmed. 2011 There were 44 non-fatal hospitalizations in 2011. Forty-five percent were males (n=20) and 55 percent were females (n=24). The children stayed a total of 294 days in the hospital, and the mean length of stay was 7 days (median= 4 days). The hospital charges totaled $3,054,575, and AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer for the majority of these hospitalizations (75 percent, n=33). Of the cases for which AHCCCS/Medicaid was the expected payer, the average cost per hospitalization was $74,741 (median=$39,571). There were two emergency department visits for abusive head injuries. According to Child Fatality Review, there were twelve confirmed deaths due to shaken infant syndrome in 2011, and five cases of abusive head trauma where shaking could not be confirmed. The non-fatal hospitalizations due to abusive head injuries were reported from ten facilities during 2004-2011. Table 1 shows non-fatal hospitalizations due to abusive head injury by facility. Table 1. Non-Fatal Hospitalizations due to Abusive Head Injury by Facility, Arizona, 2004-2011 Facility Banner Desert Medical Center Maricopa Medical Center Phoenix Children’s Hospital St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Tucson Medical Center University Medical Center Flagstaff Medical Center Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Los Niños Hospital Scottsdale Healthcare Shea 2004 (n=29) n % 2005 (n=34) n % 2006 (n=22) n % 2007 (n=22) n % 2008 (n=42) n % 2009 (n=62) n % 2010 (n=29) n % 2011 (n=44) n % 2 7% 6 18% 1 4% - - 4 10% 9 15% 3 10% 2 5% 2 7% 4 12% 3 14% 4 18% 5 12% 2 3% 3 10% 1 2% 12 41% 11 32% 10 45% 8 36% 18 43% 25 40% 16 55% 30 68% 5 17% 4 12% 4 18% 3 14% 10 24% 8 13% 3 10% 3 7% 2 7% 1 3% - - 2 9% - - 5 8% - - - - 6 21% 7 21% 3 14% 3 14% 5 12% 9 15% 4 14% 7 16% - - 1 3% - - - - - - 2 3% - - 1 2% - - - - 1 4% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 9% - - 1 2% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 2% - - - - 4 During 2004-2011, the majority of children hospitalized for abusive head injuries resided in Maricopa County. Table 2 shows non-fatal hospitalizations due to abusive head injuries by county of residence. Table 2. Non-Fatal Hospitalizations due to Abusive Head Injury by County of Residence, Arizona, 2004-2011 County of Residence 2004 (n=29) n % 1 3% 2 7% 1 3% 16 55% 1 3% 6 21% 1 3% 1 3% Apache Cochise Coconino Gila Graham La Paz Maricopa Mohave Navajo Pima Pinal Santa Cruz Yavapai Yuma Non-Arizona County - 2005 (n=34) n % 3 9% 1 3% 1 3% 15 44% 1 3% 7 21% 2 6% 1 3% 3 9% - - 2006 (n=22) n % 1 4% 1 4% 14 64% 3 14% 2 9% 1 4% - - - 2007 (n=22) n % 1 5% 1 5% 16 73% 4 18% - - - 2008 (n=42) n % 3 7% 1 2% 28 67% 1 2% 5 12% 2 5% 1 2% - - 1 2009 (n=62) n % 2 3% 1 2% 30 48% 2 3% 1 2% 12 19% 6 10% 2 3% 4 6% 2 3% 2% - - 2010 (n=29) n % 1 3% 20 69% 2 7% 2 7% 2 7% 1 3% 1 3% - - 2011 (n=44) n % 1 2% 1 2% 2 5% 22 50% 1 2% 1 2% 9 20% 3 7% 1 2% 2 5% 1 2% The sharp increase in abusive head trauma between 2008 and 2009 may have been the result of administrative changes in reporting hospital discharge data. Cases that may not have been previously reported as intentionally inflicted injuries are now reported by each hospital at which a child is seen. This change increases the likelihood that a case of abusive head trauma will be reported and captured in the hospital discharge data; it also increased the likelihood that the same child may be reported by more than one hospital if they are seen at different facilities. Figure 1 compares the number of abusive head trauma-related fatalities to inpatient hospitalizations and emergency department visits by year for 2004-2011. Figure 1. Cases of Abusive Head Trauma by Year, Arizona, 2004-2011 70 62 60 50 34 29 30 22 20 10 44 42 40 3 6 9 22 5 11 6 5 4 7 8 4 9 12 2 0 2005 Fatalities 2006 2007 2008 Non-fatal Inpatient Hospitalization 2009 2010 2011 Non-Fatal Emergency Dep't Visit 5