Football, television and emergency departments

BACKGROUND: TO know the influence of televised football on the use of emerg ency department (ED). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the number, demographic characteristics a nd acuity of patients attended during the broadcast of football matches pla yed by FC Barcelona during Champions' League (n = 12), and they were compar ed 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), D ecay of ED visits were mainly due to a decrease of low-acuity consults (-30 %; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: There is a significant decrease on ED use associated with telev ised football.