Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T13:20:54.615Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Systematic Review of Noncommunicable Health Issues in Mass Gatherings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2014

Ahmed H. Alquthami  and
Jesse M. Pines
Ahmed H. Alquthami*
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Administration and Leadership, George Washington University, Washington, DC USA and Civil Defense Aviation, Mekkah Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jesse M. Pines
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine and Health Policy, George Washington University, Washington, DC USA
*
Correspondence: Ahmed H. Alquthami, MD, MHSA 1301 N. Troy Street #05 Arlington, VA 22201 USA E-mail [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction

The review was conducted to evaluate if the field of mass-gathering medicine has evolved in addressing: (1) the lack of uniform standard measures; (2) the effectiveness of and needs for various interventions during a mass gathering; and (3) the various types of noncommunicable health issues (trauma and medical complaints) encountered and their severity during a gathering.

Methods

A systematic review of papers published from 2003 through 2012 was conducted using databases of MEDLINE, Ovid, CINHAL, EBSCOHost, National Library of Medicine (NLM), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Elsevier, Scopus, and Proquest databases. Of 37,762 articles, 17 articles were included in this review, covering 18 mass-gathering events; 14 were multiple-day events.

Results

Across all events, the patient presentation rate (PPR) ranged from 0.13 to 20.8 patients per 1,000 attendees and the transfer to hospital rate (TTHR) ranged from 0.01 to 10.2 ambulance transports per 1,000 attendees. In four out of the seven studies, having on-site providers was associated with a lower rate of ambulance transports. The highest frequencies of noncommunicable presentations were headaches, abdominal complaints, and abrasions/lacerations. Most presentations were minor. Emergent cases requiring hospitalization (such as acute myocardial infarction) were rare.

Conclusions

The rate of noncommunicable health issues varies across events and very serious emergencies are rare.

AlquthamiAH , PinesJM . A Systematic Review of Noncommunicable Health Issues in Mass Gatherings. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(2):1-9.

Keywords

mass-gathering medicinemedical usage ratepatient presentation ratetransport to hospital rate
Type
Comprehensive Review
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 2014 , pp. 167 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Milsten, AM, Maguire, BJ, Bissell, RA, Seaman, KG. Mass-gathering medical care: a review of the literature. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2002;17(3):151-162.Google Scholar
2. World Health Organization. Communicable disease alert and response for mass gatherings. Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response. Technical Workshop, Geneva, Switzerland 2008. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_HSE_EPR_2008_8c.pdf.Google Scholar
3. Arbon, P. Mass-gathering medicine: a review of evidence and future directions of research. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(2):131-135.Google Scholar
4. Milsten, AM, Seaman, KG, Liu, P, Bissell, RA, Maguire, BJ. Variables influencing medical usage rates, injury patterns, and levels of care for mass gatherings. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2003;18(4):334-346.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Varon, J, Fromm, R, Chanin, K, Filbin, M, Vutpakdi, K. Critical illness at mass gatherings is uncommon. J Emerg Med. 2003;25(4):409-413.Google Scholar
6. Grange, J, Baumann, G, Vaezazizi, R. On-site physicians reduce ambulance transports at mass gathering. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2003;7(3):322-326.Google Scholar
7. Perron, A, Brady, W, Custalow, CB, Johnson, D. Association of heat index and patient volume at a mass gathering event. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2005;9(1):49-52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Martin-Gill, C, Brady, W, Barlotta, K, et al. Hospital-based healthcare provider (nurse and physician) integration into an emergency medical services-managed mass-gathering event. Am J Emerg Med. 2007;25(1):15-22.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Zeitz, KM, Zeitz, CJ, Kadow-Griffin, C. Injury occurrences at a mass gathering event. J Emerg Public Health Care. 2005;3(1):6.Google Scholar
10. Chang, WH, Chang, KS, Huang, CS, Huang, MY, Chien, DK, Tsai, CH. Mass gathering emergency medicine: a review of the Taiwan experience of long-distance swimming across Sun-Moon Lake. Int J Gerontology. 2010;4(2):53-68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Morimura, N, Katsumi, A, Koido, Y, et al. Analysis of patient load data from the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2004;19(3):278-284.Google Scholar
12. Morimura, N, Takahashi, K, Katsumi, A, et al. Mass gathering medicine for the first East Asian Football Championship and the 24th European/South American Cup in Japan. Eur J Emerg Med. 2007;14(2):115-117.Google Scholar
13. Feldman, MJ, Lukins, JL, Verbeek, PR, MacDonald, RD, Burgess, RJ, Schwartz, B. Half a-million strong: the Emergency Medical Services response to a single-day, mass-gathering event. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2004;19(4):287-296.Google Scholar
14. Feldman, MJ, Lukins, JL, Verbeek, PR, Burgess, RJ, Schwartz, B. Use of treat-and release medical directives for paramedics at a mass gathering. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2005;9(2):213-217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15. Thierbach, AR, Wolcke, BB, Piepho, T, Maybauer, M, Huth, R. Medical support for children's mass gatherings. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2003;18(1):14-19.Google Scholar
16. Yazawa, K, Kamijo, Y, Sakai, R, Ohashi, M, Owa, M. Medical care for a mass gathering: the Suwa Onbashira Festival. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2007;22(5):431-435.Google Scholar
17. Bossarte, R, Sullivant, EE, Sinclair, J, et al. Injury, violence, and risk among participants in a mass gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2008;19(2):588-595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. Dutch, MJ, Senini, LM, Tylor, DJ. Mass gathering medicine: the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games experience. Emerg Med Australas. 2008;20(3):228-233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Grant, WD, Nacca, NE, Prince, LA, Scott, JM. Mass-gathering medical care: retrospective analysis of patient presentations over five years at a multi-day mass gathering. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2010;25(2):183-187.Google Scholar
20. Hutton, A, Munt, R, Zeitz, K, Cusack, L, Kako, M, Arbon, P. Piloting a mass gathering conceptual framework at an Adelaide Schoolies Festival. Collegian. 2010;17(4):183-191.Google Scholar
21. Arbon, P. The development of conceptual models for mass-gathering health. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2004;19(3):208-212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22. Moher, D, Liberati, A, Tetzlaff, J, Altman, DG, the PRISMA Group. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis: the PRISMA statement. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(4):264-269.Google Scholar
23. Zeitz, K, Zeitz, C, Arbon, P, Cheney, F, Johnston, R, Hennekam, J. Practical solutions for injury surveillance at mass gatherings. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23(1):76-81.Google Scholar
24. Arbon, P, Bridgewater, FH, Smith, C. Mass gathering medicine: a predictive model for patient presentation and transport rates. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2001;16(3):150-158.Google Scholar