RESUMO
To study the effect of Muslim fasting on health in general, during Ramadan, Shabaan and Shawaal Retrospective cohort study Surgical Department, Al-Sabah Hospital, Kuwait All patients [n = 61,832] who attended the Surgical Department during three consecutive lunar months each year [the fasting month - Ramadan, the month before - Shabaan and the month after - Shawaal], for the last fiveconsecutiveyearswereincluded.85%were Muslims [Mixed Group]. The study was further refinedtoanalyze Kuwaiti patients who we reall Muslims [Muslim Group]. Attendance at the Surgical Department Attendance in the Mixed Group was less during Ramadan and Shawaal in comparison to the attendance during Shabaan [p = 0.06]. In the Mixed Group, attendance during Shawaal was much less than Shabaan [p = 0.0007]. Patients in the Muslim Group attending the Surgical Department [2000 - 2004], showed a decrease in attendance during Ramadan and Shawaal in comparison to Shabaan [p = 0.015]. The total number of cases admitted to the hospital through the Surgical Department was less in Ramadan and Shawaal in comparison to Shabaan [p = 0.6]. There is a decrease in the number of Muslim patients attending Surgical department during the fasting month of Ramadan and Shawaal in comparison to Shaaban. This may indicate that Muslim fasting may have a positive effect on decreasing the number of patients attending the Surgical Department