The Association between Birthdays and Medical Emergencies

Abstract

Background: Not many studies have examined the risk of emergency medical attendance duringstressful life events or special days such as birthdays. This study looked at whether patients had ahigher than normal chance of attending the emergency departments around their birthdays compared tothe rest of the year.

Methods: Patient attendance data were collected from our accident and emergencydepartment from April 2013 to March 2014. The birthday of individual patients was matched withtheir date of attendance to find out the number of patients attending emergency department on andaround their birthdays. Chi‑square test and binominal distribution test were used to compare birthdayattendances with those occurring at other times of the year.

Results: A total of 1028 patientsattended within the 7 days starting from their birthday (expected number 49, 211/52 = 946). Thiswas found to be statistically significant (P = 0.0071). Road traffic accidents were more frequent onboth the birthday week and the week after birthday. Medical emergencies, injury in a public place,19–35 years age group and male patients showed similarly significant association but for the weekafter birthday only.

Conclusions: People are more likely to present to emergency departments in the week starting from their birthday than any other week of the year. There is scope for publichealth initiatives such as sending health education information in the form of a birthday card to raiseawareness of this risk.

Keywords: Attendance, birthday, emergencies