Effect of Weekend Admission on Hip Fracture Mortality

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Weekend hospital admissions are associated with increased mortality for various conditions.
• Previous studies on weekend hip fracture admissions have yielded conflicting results regarding patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of weekend versus weekday admission on 1-year mortality and other outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for fragility hip fractures.
• To analyze the association between admission timing and surgical duration, surgeon experience, and patient mobility.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,164 patients with fragility hip fractures over a 6-year period.
• Comparison of outcomes between weekday (n=796) and weekend (n=368) admissions.
• Statistical analysis using chi-square tests and logistic regression, with 1-year mortality as the primary outcome.

Main Results:

• Weekend admissions showed a significantly higher 1-year mortality rate (30.4% vs 23.2%, P=0.029).
• Surgical duration was shorter for weekend admissions (median 69 min vs 73.8 min, P<0.001).
• Hemiarthroplasty was associated with increased 12-month mortality compared to other procedures.

Conclusions:

• Patients admitted on weekends for fragility hip fractures experienced higher 1-year mortality and shorter surgical times.
• Findings suggest potential care disparities for weekend admissions, warranting further investigation and quality improvement initiatives.