RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Weekend admission and mortality from acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in winter
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 334
OP 339
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.11-4-334
VO 11
IS 4
A1 FJH Brims
A1 A Asiimwe
A1 NP Andrews
A1 D Prytherch
A1 BR Higgins
A1 S Kilburn
A1 AJ Chauhan
YR 2011
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/11/4/334.abstract
AB Historically, acute medical staffing numbers have been lower on weekends and in winter numbers of medical admissions rise. An analysis of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) admissions to Portsmouth Hospitals over a seven-year period was undertaken to examine the effects of admission on a weekend, of winter, and with the opening of a medical admissions unit (MAU). In total, 9,915 admissions with AECOPD were identified. Weekend admissions accounted for 2,071 (20.9%) of cases, winter accounted for 3,026 (30.5%) admissions, and 522 (34.4%) deaths. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) for death on day 1 after winter weekend admission was 2.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.035 to 8.076). After opening the MAU, the OR for death day 1 after weekend winter admission fell from 3.63 (95% CI 1.15 to 11.5) to 1.65 (95% CI 0.14 to 19.01). AECOPD patients have an increased risk of death after admission over a weekend in winter and this effect was reduced by opening a MAU. These findings have implications for the planning of acute care provision in different seasons.