The effect of Ramadan on elderly patients presenting to the emergency department

Background. Patients visiting the emergency department (ED)may show variations by certain time periods such as Ramadan. We wished to ascertain whether Ramadan affects the ED presentations, clinical conditions and outcomes of patients aged 65 years or older. Methods. Patients aged 65 years or older who presented to ED in Ramadan and in the following month in 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Results. A total of 1947 patients were enrolled, of whom 958 presented in Ramadan and 989 in the following month. The patients who presented in Ramadan most commonly (23.8%) presented between 8 p.m. and 11.59 p.m.; patients who presented in the following month most commonly (24%) presented between 8 a.m. and 11.59 a.m. (p=0.26). Complaints concerning the central nervous system (CNS) were more common in the month after Ramadan (p<0.0001). Diagnoses related to the cardiovascular system were more commonly made in Ramadan (p=0.037), whereas those related to CNS, otorhinolaryngology and oncology were more commonly made in the following month (p=0.0005, p=0.024 and p=0.003, respectively). No significant difference was found between the two groups with respect to outcomes (p= 0.36). Compared to patients who presented in Ramadan, those that presented in the following month had a significantly longer ED stay (p=0.036). Conclusion. Our study detected no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the time of presentation and ED outcomes. Patients who presented in Ramadan had a lower incidence of CNS complaints; a higher incidence of cardiovascular diagnoses; lower incidences of CNS, oncological and otorhinolaryngological diagnoses and a significantly shorter length of ED stay.