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Mortality from meningococcal disease by day of the week: English national linked database study

Michael J Goldacre1, Jenny J Maisonneuve

  • 1Unit of Health-Care Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Oxford University, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, UK. michael.goldacre@dph.ox.ac.uk

Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)
|February 5, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study found no difference in deaths from meningococcal disease between weekends and weekdays. Case fatality rates for admitted patients were also identical, indicating no "weekend effect" on mortality outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Healthcare Quality Research

Background:

  • Concerns exist regarding potential disparities in medical care quality between weekdays and weekends.
  • Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) requires immediate and effective treatment irrespective of the day of the week to prevent life-threatening outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether there is a
  • weekend effect
  • on mortality outcomes for invasive meningococcal disease.
  • To compare deaths outside hospital and case fatality rates (CFRs) for IMD between weekends and weekdays.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of linked hospital admission and mortality data in England.
  • Data spanned a 12-year period from 1999 to 2010.
  • Inclusion of 19,729 individuals diagnosed with invasive meningococcal disease.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference was observed in the number of deaths occurring outside hospital between weekend and weekday cases.
  • The case fatality rate for patients admitted to the hospital was identical for weekend (4.9%) and weekday (4.9%) admissions.
  • Sensitivity analyses and multivariate modeling confirmed the absence of a weekend effect on mortality.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no evidence of increased mortality from invasive meningococcal disease associated with weekend hospital care.
  • Effective and timely medical treatment is crucial for improving survival rates in IMD, regardless of admission day.
Keywords:
communicable diseasesemergency carehealth services

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