Stroke care organization overcomes the deleterious ‘weekend effect’ on 1‐month stroke mortality: a population‐based study
- 3 April 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Neurology
- Vol. 20 (8), 1177-1183
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.12154
Abstract
Background and purpose Suffering a stroke during the weekend is associated with a poorer prognosis. The impact of implementing a dedicated stroke care network in Dijon, France, in 2003 on 30‐day mortality in strokes/transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) occurring during weekends/bank holidays was evaluated. Methods All cases of stroke and TIA from 1985 to 2010 were identified from a population‐based registry, using multiple overlapping sources of information. Demographics and clinical data were recorded. Cox regression models were used to evaluate associations between day of onset (weekdays versus weekends/bank holidays) and 30‐day all‐cause mortality. Data were stratified according to time periods [before (1985–2003) and after (2004–2010) implementation of the stroke network] and stroke subtypes (ischaemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage). Results Of the 5864 recorded patients, 1465 (25%) had their event during weekends/bank holidays. Patients with stroke/TIA during weekdays were comparable with those with stroke/TIA during weekends/bank holidays for baseline characteristics. Excess mortality was observed in patients with stroke/TIA during weekends/bank holidays during 1985–2003 (18.2% vs. 14.0%, P < 0.01) but not during 2004–2010 (8.4% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.74). Onset during weekends/bank holidays was associated with a higher risk of 30‐day mortality during 1985–2003 (adjusted hazard ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.06–1.51, P = 0.01), but not during 2004–2010 (adjusted hazard ratio 0.99; 95% CI 0.69–1.43, P = 0.97). Conclusion The deleterious effect of weekends/bank holidays on early stroke mortality disappeared after the organization of a dedicated stroke care network in our community. Our findings provide strong support for the implementation of quality improvement initiatives in order to attenuate inequalities in the management of stroke patients.This publication has 20 references indexed in Scilit:
- Dying for the WeekendArchives of Neurology, 2012
- Association between weekend hospital presentation and stroke fatalityNeurology, 2010
- A multifaceted look at time of admission and its impact on case-fatality among a cohort of ischaemic stroke patientsJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2010
- Bias in request for medical care and impact on outcome during office and non‐office hours in stroke patientsEuropean Journal of Neurology, 2009
- Influence of Weekend Hospital Admission on Short-Term Mortality After Intracerebral HemorrhageStroke, 2009
- Can Comprehensive Stroke Centers Erase the ‘Weekend Effect’?Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2008
- Weekend Versus Weekday Admission and Stroke Outcome in Sweden From 1968 to 2005Stroke, 2007
- Weekends: A Dangerous Time for Having a Stroke?Stroke, 2007
- Access to stroke care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: the effect of age, gender and weekend admissionAge and Ageing, 2007
- The Effect of Weekends and Holidays on Stroke Outcome in Acute Stroke UnitsCerebrovascular Diseases, 2005