The Impact of Mass Gatherings and Events on Emergency Department Admissions: A Systematic Literature Review[1]
Summary
A 2025 systematic review (PRISMA, 2012-2024, eight databases) of 14 studies examining how mass gatherings affect emergency department admissions. The finding is that the direction of effect is not consistent: some events produced ED attendance drops of 7.5-37%, while others - particularly music festivals and religious gatherings - produced spikes, reaching up to 83% during Umrah. Substance-related presentations rose by up to 10% and trauma accounted for up to 34% of the event-associated caseload. Surges frequently occurred 4-12 hours after the event rather than during it. Music festivals were characterised by substance-related presentations; religious gatherings by higher medical and respiratory admissions. The authors conclude that post-event surge preparedness, coordinated planning with organisers, and targeted public health interventions are needed.
So what
Event medical planning that ends when the event ends is planning for the wrong window - this review finds surges concentrated 4-12 hours afterwards, in the receiving hospitals rather than on site. It also undercuts the assumption that a big event always increases local ED load: some reduce it. Engage the receiving hospital in the plan, and set expectations by event type rather than by attendance alone.
Read the paper
- Publisher (DOI) ↗may be paywalled