Adolescents Treated for Adversity-Related Injuries Are at Increased Risk for Death

Data from the U.K. show that adolescents with emergency department (ED) admissions for adversity-related injuries (defined as self-inflicted or related to drug/alcohol use or violence) are twice as likely to die in the subsequent decade compared with adolescents presenting with accident-related injuries. To further characterize this increased risk, investigators retrospectively examined cause-specific mortality risks in the 10 years after ED discharge.

Among approximately one million adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (35% girls), adjusted relative risks for death from any cause, suicide, or drugs or alcohol were consistently higher in those with adversity-related versus accident-related injuries. Relative risks were highest (by five- to sixfol…