Temporal and Meteorological Patterns of Assault-related Emergency Department Presentations

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Gonulal A. E., COŞKUN YAŞ S., Ates S., Tuncel C. U., Gunaydin Y. K.

EURASIAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, cilt.25, sa.1, ss.342-350, 2026 (ESCI, TRDizin)

Özet

Aim: Assault-related injuries constitute a significant burden on emergency departments and may be influenced by environmental factors. This study aimed to explore the association between meteorological parameters and assault-related emergency department presentations in an urban, upper-middle-income setting, and to describe temporal and clinical characteristics relevant to emergency service planning. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult patients presenting with assault-related injuries to a tertiary emergency department between January 1 and December 31, 2023. Demographic characteristics, injury mechanisms and types, clinical outcomes, and time of presentation were recorded. Meteorological data, including daily mean temperature, wind speed, and precipitation status, were obtained from official records. Associations between weather variables, temporal factors, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: A total of 4,042 patients were included: 2,606 (64.5%) were male, and the median age was 32 years. Nearly half of the presentations occurred between 16:00 and 23:59 (48.6%), with the highest frequency observed on Sundays (16.1%) and during the summer (31.4%). Physical assault was the predominant mechanism of injury (88.3%), and soft tissue injury was the most common injury type (78.9%). Assault-related presentations peaked when daily mean temperatures ranged between 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C, while wind speed and precipitation showed no significant pattern with presentation frequency. Stab/cut-related and firearm-related injuries were significantly more frequent among patients who required hospitalization, who had life-threatening conditions, or who required surgery (p<0.001). Conclusion: Assault-related emergency department presentations demonstrate distinct temporal and environmental patterns in an upper-middle-income urban setting. An increased frequency of presentations within specific temperature ranges and during predictable time periods highlights the importance of incorporating environmental and temporal factors into emergency department resource planning and violence prevention strategies.