Effects of weather, air pollution and Oktoberfest on ambulance-transported emergency department admissions in Munich, Germany

Highlights: • Medical emergencies peak in Oktoberfest and New Year's Day in the Greater Munich Area. • Daily ED numbers are modelled by calendar, environmental, and weather warning variables. • The influence of weather and air pollution differs by season, patients' sex and age. • Timely allocation of healthcare resources should consider calendar dates, weather and air quality. Climate change and increasing risks of extreme weather events affect human health and lead to changes in the emergency department (ED) admissions and the emergency medical services (EMS) operations. For a better allocation of resources in the healthcare system, it is essential to predict ED numbers based on environmental variables. This publication aims to quantify weather, air pollution and calendar-related effects on daily ED admissions.