The retrospective analysis of the demographic data of earthquake victims who applied to emergency services in Antalya following the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023

This study aims to retrospectively examine the demographic data of earthquake survivors who presented to the emergency departments of hospitals in Antalya province following the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. Understanding fundamental parameters such as age, sex, reasons for presentation, and diagnostic distributions is crucial for the effective management of post-disaster emergency healthcare services. Conducted at the Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, this research involved a retrospective review of the records of patients who presented to various emergency departments in Antalya within a 3-month period after the earthquake. The inclusion criterion was presentation to the emergency department subsequent to the earthquake. Demographic data (age, sex), type of emergency department visited (adult/pediatric), diagnostic categories (infections, pain, trauma, infectious diseases, etc.), and patient outcomes (discharge, hospitalization, intensive care) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Among the 16,186 patients evaluated, 53.7% were female and 45.8% male, with a mean age of 33.6 years. The majority of presentations were to adult emergency departments; however, pediatric emergency presentations were also considerable. Infections constituted the most common diagnostic category, followed by pain and trauma. In particular, upper respiratory tract infections, myalgia, and soft tissue trauma were frequently observed. While a significant portion of patients was discharged, only a small proportion required hospitalization or intensive care. By revealing the demographic data and diagnostic distributions of earthquake survivors presenting to emergency departments in Antalya following the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake, this study provides valuable insights into the management of post-disaster healthcare services. The data obtained will guide future disaster scenarios in terms of health planning, staffing and resource allocation, triage, and hospital capacity management. Understanding the nature and distribution of emergency department presentations after a disaster will enhance the resilience of the healthcare system and improve the quality of patient care. Keywords: Earthquake, Natural disaster, Migration