Impact of Ramadan on demographics and frequencies of disease-related visits in the emergency department

Abstract

Summary The objective of this study was to determine whether Ramadan is changing frequencies and demographics of visits due to certain diseases. Data obtained from the charts of the adult patients admitted into the emergency department (ED) due to 10 predetermined entities between 2000 and 2004 were analysed. Demographic variables analysed separately for certain entities visiting the ED in Ramadan were not found to be different from visits in other times of year. Visit frequencies for hypertension and uncomplicated headache in Ramadan were significantly higher than in non-Ramadan months (chi(2) test, p = 0.015 for hypertension, p < 0.001 for uncomplicated headache). Mean age of the patients admitted to the ED due to diabetes-related conditions in Ramadan was significantly lower than in pre- and post-Ramadan months (59.91 +/- 14.60 and 62.11 +/- 14.61, respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.032). The patients with diabetes presenting in Ramadan were found significantly younger than their peers in the rest of the year. For other diseases, Ramadan does not appear to be a risk factor.

Religion, spirituality and cardiovascular disease: research, clinical implications, and opportunities in Brazil

“…When examining the higher quality studies (those rated 7 or higher on a 1-10 scale), 24 (62%) reported lower BP or less hypertension among those who were more R/S [161][162][163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172][173] or in response to a R/S intervention [174][175][176][177][178][179][180][181][182][183][184] (including two reports from a single study, one reporting results for the overall sample and one for the sample stratified by race). In contrast, seven studies reported higher blood pressure among the more religious, including two lower quality studies [185,186] and five high-quality studies (13%) [187][188][189][190][191]. Why would R/S would be associated with higher blood pressure?…”

Migraine exacerbation during Ramadan fasting

“…Coffee and strong tea consumption is highly abundant in Bedouin culture and withdrawal is probably prominent. A previous [9] study has demonstrated higher rates of headache-related emergency room visits during Ramadan in Muslim communities in India. In addition, no epidemiological migraine surveys were preformed in the Bedouin community, our clinical experience is that migraine prevalence and characteristics are similar among Bedouins to the Jewish community.…”

Health is a spiritual thing: perspectives of health care professionals and female Somali and Bangladeshi women on the health impacts of fasting during Ramadan

“…A MEDLINE search of articles containing the word 'Ramadan' or a combination of 'fasting' plus either 'Muslim' or 'Islam' found that researchers have examined the effect of fasting during Ramadan on diabetes (Salti et al 2004, Sari et al 2004, breast milk composition (Rakicioglu et al 2006, Rashid 2007, cholesterol levels (Adlouni et al 1998, Qujeq et al 2002, seizure activity (Gomceli et al 2008), incidence of acute cardiac events (Al suwaidi et al 2004a), incidence of hospitalisation for congestive heart failure (Al Suwaidi et al 2004b), frequency of emergency department visits (Topacoglu et al 2005) and neonatal birth weight (Kavehmanesh and Abolghasemi 2004). Several studies have noted inadequate hydration (Schmahl andMetzler 1991, Leiper andMolla 2003); variations in nutritional intake (Gharbi et al 2003, Lamine et al 2006, Reilly and Waterhouse 2007; challenges with medication, administration and adherence (Aadil et al 2004, Habib et al 2008; and inadequacy of sleep (Roky et al 2003) during Ramadan.…”