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Mortality following Stroke, the Weekend Effect and Related Factors: Record Linkage Study
Stephen E Roberts1, Kymberley Thorne1, Ashley Akbari1
1College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|June 30, 2015
Summary
Stroke mortality has decreased over time. Weekend hospital admissions for stroke show increased mortality, but this effect is not significantly influenced by hospital size, season, or patient distance, except for unspecified stroke types.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Studies suggest a 'weekend effect' on stroke mortality, but findings are inconsistent.
- The influence of hospital size, season, and patient proximity on this effect remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze temporal trends in stroke mortality after hospitalization.
- To investigate the relationship between weekend stroke admissions and factors like hospital size, season, and patient distance.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study utilizing linked inpatient, mortality, and primary care data for stroke patients from 2004 to 2012.
- Key outcome measures included 7-day, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rates.
Main Results:
- Overall stroke mortality decreased significantly between 2004 and 2012.
- Weekend admissions showed a 19% increase in 7-day mortality compared to weekdays, despite lower admission rates.
- Indications of higher weekend mortality were observed during winter, in smaller hospitals, and for patients living farther away, though not statistically significant for most factors.
Conclusions:
- Stroke mortality has declined over the study period.
- Weekend stroke admissions are associated with increased short-term mortality, potentially due to higher stroke severity thresholds for weekend admissions.
- No significant variation in the weekend effect was found concerning hospital size, season, or distance, except for unspecified stroke subtypes.
