BackgroundEpistaxis is a common reason patients present to the emergency department. There is significant variation in climate across Canada. Our study aimed to determine if epistaxis is related to season, temperature and humidity in a Maritime climate.MethodsEthics approval was obtained. A retrospective chart review was performed. Patients who presented to the Saint John Regional Hospital Emergency Room between July 2015 and December 2017 with a diagnosis of epistaxis were identified. Weather data was collected from Environment Canada. We performed multiple univariate analyses examining confounding variables.ResultsIn total, 476 cases of epistaxis were identified. There was a significant seasonal variation; the highest number of epistaxis cases occurred in the winter (p < 0.001). A negative correlation was seen between mean daily humidity and epistaxis (R2 = 0.7794).ConclusionThe highest number of cases presented in the winter and a negative correlation was found between epistaxis and mean daily humidity.

Objectives: Patients with a peritonsillar abscess (PTA) often present to emergency departments as the first point of medical contact. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are more frequent in the winter. Therefore, we hypothesize that the incidence of PTAs will be more frequent in colder winter months as well. This is the first study assessing the seasonal variation and epidemiology of PTA presentations to an emergency department in Atlantic Canada, home to a unique maritime climate. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted through a chart review of all patients who presented to the Saint John Regional Hospital Emergency Department from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Patient characteristics, treatment, and microbiology were reported. A chi-square goodness-of-fit test assessed the seasonal variation of PTA. Pearson correlations assessed PTA incidence per mean monthly temperature and humidity. Results: A total of 75 patients were included. 57.3% were male and 42.7% were female, with a mean age (±SD) of 35.9 ± 14.0. Most patients presented afebrile (82.7%, cutoff ≥ 38.0°C). Approximately half of all patients had an elevated WBC count (49.3%, cutoff ≥ 10.9 × 109). The most common bacteria isolated were Streptococcus species followed by anaerobic bacteria (17.9%). No significant variation was found with respect to season (X2(3) = 1.0, P = .801), temperature ( r(70) = 0.198, P = .096), or humidity, ( r(70) = 0.063, P = .599). Conclusion: This study did not find a seasonal variation of PTA in a maritime climate. These findings question the anecdotal hypothesis that PTA is associated with progression from acute URTIs and therefore would be more common in the winter months.

Background Monitoring trends in the burden of illness and injury attributable to work is key in assessing occupational health hazards; however, New Brunswick does not participate in the Canadian National Ambulatory Care Reporting System which itself does not collect details of occupation and industry. Aims We set out to determine the proportion of emergency department attendances that were attributable to a work-related cause. We also wanted to evaluate the recording of occupation in the electronic health record system, and to describe the characteristics of patients with a work-related presentation. Methods A retrospective observational study over a 1-year period was conducted using an administrative database obtained from Canadian Emergency Department Information System. Descriptive statistics are used to present the analysis of categorical and continuous data. Results A total of 49 365 patients were included for analysis. Two per cent of patients presented with a self-reported work-related condition. Health care and social assistance, construction, retail trade and manufacturing were the most common industries reported by patients. Conclusions This study found the rate of work-related medical conditions to be substantially less than expected, and that occupation was not captured for any patients presenting to the emergency department with a work-related condition, despite a field being available in the electronic health record registration system. We were able to analyse the industry sectors for work-related presentations. The recording and coding of occupation and industry would significantly benefit occupational epidemiology in emergency medicine as well as potentially improving patient outcomes and health system efficiencies.