The Impact of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup During Winter Epidemics on Paediatric Emergency Department Use and Misuse Patterns: a Multicentre, Retrospective, Population-based Study

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.