Female victims of gun violence in the US have a lower mortality rate compared to males despite similar injury severity.
A new study also shows women have better outcomes post-hospital admission with fewer complications.
This is according to a seven-year analysis of a US national injury database published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.
The researchers noted the rising trend in firearm injuries and deaths annually.
Notably, women in the US are significantly more likely to die from firearm injuries than women in other developed nations.
This stark contrast prompted researchers to investigate whether injury patterns or other factors contribute to this gender discrepancy.
The analysis, examining data from the US National Trauma Database spanning 2013 to 2019, meticulously matched men and women based on factors like background, existing health conditions, injury severity and health insurance.
Of the 196,696 individuals admitted to hospitals due to firearm injuries during this period, the majority were men (88%).
Surprisingly, despite men constituting the majority of victims, women showed a statistical advantage in survival rates during hospital treatment (18.5% vs. 20.0%).
They also exhibited lower rates of complications post-admission, including reduced incidents of deep vein thrombosis, drug/alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the need for assisted breathing.
Even when the analysis focused on individuals with more severe firearm injuries or those under 50, the gender differences in mortality rates and outcomes persisted.
This suggests a distinct survival advantage for women following firearms-related injuries despite a similar overall injury burden post-matching with men.
Researchers speculated on potential explanations, noting differences in blood clotting tendencies between genders and the influence of the female hormone oestrogen in enhancing the body’s immune response.
This contrasts with the immune-dampening effects of the male hormone testosterone.
However, they highlighted that the study’s observational nature and reliance on historical medical records posed limitations.
Factors not considered in the matching criteria and the lack of information on pre-hospital admission deaths and specific causes of death for admitted individuals were among the study’s constraints.
Nonetheless, the findings emphasise a compelling point.
