Cited 11 times since 2018 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC American heart journal, Volume 205, 16 3 2018, Pages 70-76 Mortality differences in acute myocardial infarction patients in the Netherlands: The weekend-effect. Eindhoven DC, Wu HW, Kremer SWF, van Erkelens JA, Cannegieter SC, Schalij MJ, Borleffs CJW
Objective
Several studies have shown that patients admitted with an acute myocardial infarction during the weekends have a higher mortality rate than those admitted during weekdays, possibly attributable to less trained personnel available and a lower use of medical procedures. The current study aimed to assess this ‘weekend-effect’ in a nationwide registry.
Methods
In the Netherlands, all inhabitants are, by law, obliged to have health insurance and all claim data are centrally registered. In 2012 and 2013, all national diagnose-codings of STEMI and NSTEMI patients were acquired. One-year mortality rates and treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared between weekdays and weekends (holidays included).
Results
In total, 59,534 patients (67 ± 13 years, 39,545(66%) male) were included of whom 33,904(57%) had a NSTEMI. Overall 6857(12%) patients died in the year following the acute myocardial infarction registration. In STEMI patients, no differences in one-year mortality rates were observed between admission on weekdays or weekends. In NSTEMI patients, one-year mortality was higher in those admitted during weekends (weekdays 11% versus weekends 13%, P < .001). Furthermore, STEMI patients admitted during weekends were more often treated with PCI (weekdays 77% versus weekends 81%, P < .001). Conversely, NSTEMI patients admitted during weekends were less often treated with PCI (weekdays 35% versus weekends 32%, P < .001).
Conclusion
Differences in treatment and mortality rates exist between acute myocardial infarction patients admitted during weekdays and weekends. NSTEMI patients admitted during weekends are less often treated with PCI and have a higher mortality rate than patients admitted during weekdays.
