Mortality, as well as length of stay, is highest among heart failure patients admitted in January, on a Friday or overnight, according to a study presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2013.
Researchers examined data on 949,907 heart failure hospitalizations in New York between 1994 and 2007 to determine the relationship between mortality and length of stay, and the hour, day and month the patient was admitted.
The data showed that mortality peaked for patients admitted in January, on a Friday or overnight (between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m.). Conversely, mortality was lowest for patients admitted in the morning (between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m.), on Mondays and in warmer months.
The authors suggest hospitals use the results of this study to allocate more resources to these higher-risk periods.
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Researchers examined data on 949,907 heart failure hospitalizations in New York between 1994 and 2007 to determine the relationship between mortality and length of stay, and the hour, day and month the patient was admitted.
The data showed that mortality peaked for patients admitted in January, on a Friday or overnight (between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m.). Conversely, mortality was lowest for patients admitted in the morning (between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m.), on Mondays and in warmer months.
The authors suggest hospitals use the results of this study to allocate more resources to these higher-risk periods.
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