A retrospective cohort study to explore the impact of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar on paediatric emergency department attendance at two tertiary centres during unprecedent winter viral epidemics.
Earlier studies have reported contradictory relationship between major sporting events and paediatric emergency department attendance. None were conducted during an epidemic surge. The FIFA football World Cup 2022 was held for the first time in its history during the winter period in the northern hemisphere during unprecedented cumulative waves of respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemics. This study aims to measure the impact of such a global major sporting events on the pattern of paediatric emergency department use and hospital admissions during a peak epidemic season in 2 tertiary hospitals. The study hypothesis was that major sporting events, even during an epidemic peak, can reduce the number of paediatric emergency department visits compared with periods without a sporting event. Major sporting events could serve as a model for identifying human behaviours and patterns leading to paediatric emergency department misuse, in order to develop public health interventions to better rationalise health-seeking behaviours.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
18,000
NO intervention
Geneva Children's Hospital
Geneva, Switzerland
PED visits
Retrospective analysis of number of PED visits (counts).
Time frame: Institutional electronic medical records analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Triage acuity score
Retrospective analysis of number of PED visits (counts) by triage acuity score (coded using the 5-level Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (from level 1 \[resuscitation\] to level 5 \[nonurgent\]).
Time frame: Institutional electronic medical records analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Chief complaint
Retrospective analysis of number of PED visits (counts) by chief complaints.
Time frame: Institutional electronic medical records analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Main diagnosis
Retrospective analysis of number of PED visits (counts) by main diagnosis (coded using the International Classification of Primary Care, 2nd edition \[ICPC-2\], and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision \[ICD-10-GM\]).
Time frame: Institutional electronic medical records analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Audience
Daily television and online media audience collected by the independent, multi-platform Swiss national foundation for media research (Mediapulse AG, Bern, Switzerland).
Time frame: Analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
RSV incidence
RSV-incidence estimates among children will be obtained from the anonymised Swiss RSV EpiCH multicentre database. RSV testing uses reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test at the point of care.
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Time frame: Analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Influenza incidence
Influenza-incidence among children visiting the PED during the study period will be obtained from the institutional electronic medical records. RSV testing on nasopharyngeal swabs uses reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction at the point of care.
Time frame: Analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022
SARS-CoV-2 incidence
SARS-CoV-2-incidence among children visiting the PED during the study period will be obtained from the institutional electronic medical records. SARS-CoV-2 testing on nasopharyngeal swabs uses reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction at the point of care.
Time frame: Analysed retrospectively from October 1st, 2022 to December 31, 2022