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Circadian pattern of emergency calls: implications for ED organization
Roberto Manfredini1, Olga La Cecilia, Benedetta Boari
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara Medical School, Ferrara, Italy. mfr@unife.it
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 5, 2002
Summary
Emergency calls show daily rhythms, with peaks in morning for cardiac and neurological issues, and afternoons for trauma. Staffing should adapt to these circadian patterns.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Chronobiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute medical conditions exhibit circadian variations in onset.
- This suggests potential daily patterns in emergency service utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circadian variations in emergency calls.
- To identify specific disease groups with distinct temporal call patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 20,858 emergency calls to a central coordinating unit over one year.
- Categorization of calls into 24 hourly intervals.
- Application of partial Fourier series to assess circadian rhythmicity.
Main Results:
- Significant circadian variations were observed across most emergency call subgroups.
- Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological emergencies peaked in the morning.
- Trauma, neoplastic diseases, and acute poisoning calls peaked in the afternoon.
- Alcoholic intoxication calls did not show a significant circadian pattern.
Conclusions:
- Emergency call volume follows predictable daily rhythms, varying by medical condition.
- Emergency Department (ED) staffing and resource allocation should align with identified peak hours.
- Understanding these circadian patterns can optimize emergency care delivery and efficiency.