Mass-Gathering Medical Care: Retrospective Analysis of Patient Presentations over Five Years at a Multi-Day Mass Gathering

Abstract

Patron data from fairs and expositions is a valuable resource for studying mass-gathering medical care. A majority (58%) of patients seen at the infirmary were female. The most common reason for being seen was dehydration/heat-related illness, which heavily favored females, but favored no age groups. The abrasion/laceration category did not contribute to the gender discrepancy. Patients who fell tended to be females >40 years of age. Further analysis is required to determine the reason for the gender discrepancies. Planners of multi-day mass gatherings should develop public education programs and evaluate their impact on the at-risk populations identified by this analysis.