[Football, television and emergency services].
BACKGROUND
To know the influence of televised football on the use of emergency department (ED).


METHODS
We assessed the number, demographic characteristics and acuity of patients attended during the broadcast of football matches played by FC Barcelona during Champions' League (n = 12), and they were compared with days without televised football (n = 12).


RESULTS
Televised football was associated with a decrease in visits to ED (-18%; p = 0.002). Such a decrease was observed for all ED units, but only for traumatology unit reached statistical significance (-28%; p = 0.006). Decay of ED visits were mainly due to a decrease of low-acuity consults (-30%; p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant decrease on ED use associated with televised football.
Miró
O
O
Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona. omiro@medicina.ub.es
Sánchez
M
M
Borrás
A
A
Millá
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013030:Spain; D013690:Television