When COPD patients are admitted to the hospital matters, according to new research out of Spain. Investigators found that individuals with acute exacerbations are more likely to die if admitted to hospital at the weekend than on a weekday.

"Differences in hospital staffing may influence outcomes for patients with acute conditions, including acute exacerbations of COPD, depending on which day of the week the patients are admitted," the authors wrote, noting that recognizing the increased risk factor associated with admission days could "be of crucial importance for curtailing cost and reducing mortality."

For the study, data on 289,077 adults (69.9% men) were reviewed. Of the 69,770 who were admitted at weekends, 12.9% died, compared to 12.1% of the 219,307 patients admitted during the week. After accounting for age, gender, and comorbid conditions, patients admitted to hospital at the weekend still had significantly higher in-hospital mortality rates than those admitted on weekdays.

The authors conclude, "Efforts should be made to increase the efficacy and decrease the fallibility of doctors during periods of short staffing."
 

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