Austrian scientists from the Medical University of Graz say that people who are admitted to hospital on weekends are more likely to die than patients who are admitted to the hospital for the first time from Monday to Friday.
One of the researchers, Paul Zajik, says that the medical statistics of patients compiled by the Austrian Ministry of Health from 2012 to 2015 were examined. Scientists have studied about 167 thousand cases of patients in intensive care units of hospitals and proved the existence of the "weekend effect".
According to the data obtained, those people who ended up in the "intensive care unit" on weekends and subsequently died in clinics were 11-15% more than those who died after receiving help from Monday to Friday. In addition, if a person was assisted on "working" days, then his chances of not dying on Saturday and Sunday increased by 7-15%.
Doctors believe that this extensive study should conclusively prove the existence of the "weekend effect". After all, earlier attempts were also made to analyze such statistics, but they gave different results. In particular, during 2015-2016, two independent groups of British scientists conducted a similar analysis. Some have come to the conclusion that they die less often on weekends than on weekdays. Others, with the most deaths occurring on Monday and Friday.
Scientists from Austria argue that the results of their British colleagues are inaccurate, since there is a bias effect (those who were in the "intensive care" on weekends, died from the "consequences" of help on weekdays, and vice versa).
The researchers' report underscores the importance of this evidence to the public, authorities and health authorities, who must take into account the “weekend effect”. Scientists say that "it is unthinkable when in the 21st century a patient's life depends on the day of the week on the calendar."
Roman Romanov
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