Multicenter analysis of dog bite injuries: Clinical patterns, demographics, and health outcomes for public safety enhancement

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate the factors influencing the severity of dog bite injuries, and subsequently, to determine whether there are differences depending on whether the dogs are owned or stray of patients admitted to the Emergency Departments (ED) of four roman hospitals due to dog-bites.Materials and MethodsData on clinical characteristics, accident timing, dog ownership status, type of injury and district involved were collected for ED patients involved in dog-bites from January 2014 to December 2023. Subsequently, dog-bite injury severity was assessed through Mcheick Classification. Descriptive, univariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed for the selected items.ResultsOver the study period, 4336 patients were admitted to the ED following dog-bites injuries. Multivariate analysis, based on dog-bite injury severity, revealed that the involved body region (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03–2.04) and the risk of hospitalization (OR 6.04, 95% CI: 3.85–9.46) are predictive factors of greater injury severity, and that elderly individuals have a higher risk of experiencing more severe injuries (OR 1.90, 95% CI: 1.46–2.47). Moreover, multivariate analysis, based on dog ownership status, showed a lower probability of being bitten by a stray dog compared to an owned dog for children, teenagers and elderly (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.31–0.55; OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42–0.80; OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50–0.84, respectively). Regarding the district involved, bites to the head and neck region were less frequent in cases involving stray/unknown dogs (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.24–0.34).ConclusionsThis study revealed a rising trend in the number of cases until 2019, after which a decrease was observed. Injury severity increased with age, with children 35% less likely and those over 60 90% more likely to sustain severe injuries. Children, teenagers, and the elderly were less likely to be bitten by stray dogs, which were also less frequently associated with head and neck bites. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, addressing both injury severity across age groups and the risks associated with owned versus stray dogs.