effect of ramadan fasting on surgical emergency attendants

ABSTRACT

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