Sign in Subscribe
COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic Alters Injury Profiles of Children and Adolescents in Kunshan, China

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the epidemiology of unintentional injuries among children and adolescents in Kunshan, China. A recent study conducted by the Children's Hospital of Fudan University has analyzed the trends and mechanisms of pediatric unintentional injuries in the region from 2018 to 2023. The research found that the pandemic led to a significant decrease in unintentional injury cases, particularly during the years 2020-2022. However, the study also identified that the pandemic altered injury profiles, with falls and burns becoming more frequent incidents among children under 5 years old.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed 77,379 pediatric unintentional injury cases in Kunshan, China, from 2018 to 2023.
  • Males constituted 62.76% of cases, with a mean age of 5.37 years.
  • The primary age groups were 3-6 years and 6-12 years, which accounted for 60% of the total population.
  • Falls (21.36%) and transport injuries (4.00%) predominated, with limbs being the most injured body part (59.08%).
  • Contusions/abrasions (41.54%) and sprains/strains (31.21%) were common.
  • Subgroup analysis was performed in children under 5 years old, revealing that falls and burns were the most frequent incidents.
  • The pandemic led to a significant decrease in unintentional injury cases, particularly during the years 2020-2022.
  • The refined ARIMA(1,1,2) (0,1,1)[12] model, excluding pandemic effects, achieved a mean absolute percentage error of 6.46% while revealing seasonal patterns and predicting a slight downward trend for 2024-2026.
  • Pediatric unintentional injuries in Kunshan exhibited gender and age-specific patterns, with COVID-19 altering injury profiles.

Statistics:

  • 77,379 pediatric unintentional injury cases were analyzed from 2018 to 2023.
  • Males accounted for 62.76% of cases.
  • The mean age of cases was 5.37 years.
  • Falls accounted for 21.36% of cases.
  • Transport injuries accounted for 4.00% of cases.
  • Contusions/abrasions accounted for 41.54% of cases.
  • Sprains/strains accounted for 31.21% of cases.
  • The ARIMA model achieved a mean absolute percentage error of 6.46%.

Sources:

  • Characteristics and trends of unintentional injuries among children and adolescents in Kunshan, China: a hospital-based retrospective study, 2018-2023. Frontiers in Public Health, 2025;13:1606347.
  • NewsRx. Children's Hospital of Fudan University Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Characteristics and trends of unintentional injuries among children and adolescents in Kunshan, China: a hospital-based retrospective study, 2018-2023). Pediatrics Week. July 12, 2025; p 2.

Read more