Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41120947›Full record

Observational studyBMC emergency medicine2025

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of seawater drowning cases in Sinop, a Turkish coastal city: a 13-year retrospective study.

Teoman Erşen, Kıvanç Öncü, Özhan Özcan, Şeyma Şimşirgil Kara, Mustafa Sağlam, Elif Orhun, Dilşan Özcanoğlu Sağlam, Huriye Demet Cabar

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. [Risk factors for mortality in children with severe drowning: a 10-year single-center retrospective study].Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Teoman ErşenDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1379-3161
Kıvanç ÖncüDepartment of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey. dr.kivanc.oncu@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6052-5640
Özhan ÖzcanDepartment of Surgery and Critical Care, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9928-2383
Şeyma Şimşirgil KaraDepartment of Child Development, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6894-5631
Mustafa SağlamDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-4619-5884
Elif OrhunDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0156-8789
Dilşan Özcanoğlu SağlamDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sinop Atatürk State Hospital, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-5739-7924
Huriye Demet CabarFaculty of Health Sciences, Sinop University, Sinop, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6062-4331

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDrowning is a significant public health issue, particularly in coastal regions such as Sinop, Turkey, where seasonal variations contribute to a high incidence of cases. However, there is a lack of long-term, population-based studies from the Black Sea region, where distinct environmental factors may influence drowning patterns. This study provides a comprehensive 13-year analysis of seawater drowning cases, including detailed demographic, clinical, and outcome characteristics, to inform prevention strategies and improve emergency response.

methodsA retrospective, observational study was conducted on all patients admitted to the regional referral Emergency Department (ED) due to seawater drowning between July 2011 and July 2024. Demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and outcomes were retrieved from institutional and national health record systems. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed.

resultsA total of 198 patients were included, of whom 69.2% were male, with a mean age of 29.6 years. The majority of cases (over 82%) occurred in July and August, and 51% involved tourists. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed in 17.7% of patients. Trauma was documented in 7.1% of patients; among these, the most commonly affected regions were the extremities (50.0%) and the head (35.7%). Laboratory analysis showed elevated lactate levels and reduced pH. On admission, most patients had preserved neurological status, while 19.2% presented with severe impairment (GCS ≤8). According to the Szpilman score, 37.9% had mild and 17.7% severe symptoms. The overall mortality was 19.7%, and 22.2% of patients required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Notably, 35.9% of all fatal cases (n = 14) involved individuals who drowned while attempting to rescue others.

conclusionsDrowning imposes a substantial burden in coastal regions, disproportionately affecting young males during the summer. Our findings highlight the need for enhanced emergency preparedness and structured clinical response, as well as public education on water safety and safe rescue practices. These findings contribute valuable insight for developing regional and international strategies to mitigate drowning outcomes.

trial registrationNot applicable. This study is a retrospective observational analysis and was not registered as a clinical trial.

Indexed as

DrowningSeawaterAdolescentAdultChildEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSeasonsTurkeyYoung AdultDrowningEmergency medical servicesEmergency medicineEpidemiologySeawater

Identifiers

PMID41120947
PMCPMC12542062

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.