The Emergence of Hajj Stampedes: Lessons for Hajj Trauma Centers

Context: The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the most important obligations of Muslims. Hajj is the ۲nd largest annual gatherings in the world after the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Karbala. Many of the health risk factors during the Hajj can be prevented or controlled. Evidence Acquisition: ۱۷ available papers pertaining to the Hajj pilgrimage from ۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۱۶ were aggregated, coded and used in the current study. The data were collected from the ISI web of knowledge, Scopus, Google Scholar, Lancet, PubMed, MEDLINE, Wiley, Highwire and EMBASE. The search strategy included the Hajj pilgrimage and trauma centers or Islamic ethics, Islamic rights, and accreditation. Results: On average ۱,۳۷۹,۵۰۰ pilgrims from ۱۸۸ different countries as well as ۸۰۰,۰۰۰ from Saudi Arabia visited Mecca every year. The health risk factors classified categories included communicable and noncommunicable diseases. A total ۲,۴۳۱ people died and ۴۲۷ were missing from ۴۲ countries according to latest reports of the Hajj stampede in ۲۰۱۵. Conclusions: Recent studies pertaining to Hajj had emphasized standard reforms to prevent future incidents during the Hajj rituals.