Day of Hospital Admission and Effect on Outcomes: The Weekend Effect in Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis

J Surg Res. 2019 Jan:233:192-198. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.07.070. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Abstract

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate outcomes in patients who are admitted on weekend compared with those admitted on a weekday for acute gallstone pancreatitis.

Methods: We performed a 3-y (2010-2012) analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were included and were divided into two groups: admission on the weekend versus the weekday. Primary outcome measures were time to ERCP, adverse events, and mortality. Secondary outcome measures were hospital length of stay and total cost.

Results: A total of 5803 patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis who underwent ERCP were included in our study; of which 22.6% were admitted on the weekend, whereas 77.4% were admitted on a weekday. Mean age was 57 ± 18 y and 57.1% were female. Within 24 h, the rate of ERCP was higher in patients admitted on the weekday compared with those admitted on the weekend (40% versus 24%; P < 0.001). Similarly, by 48 h, the rate of ERCP was higher in the weekday group (69% versus 49%, P < 0.001). Patients admitted over the weekends had higher complications rate (P = 0.03), hospital length of stay (P < 0.001), and the total cost of hospitalization (P < 0.001) compared with the weekday group with no difference in in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions: Patients admitted on weekends for acute gallstone pancreatitis experience a delay in getting ERCP and have higher complications, prolonged hospital stay, and increased hospital costs compared with those admitted on weekdays.

Keywords: ERCP; Gallstone; Pancreatitis; Weekday; Weekend.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / adverse effects*
  • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / economics
  • Female
  • Gallstones / complications
  • Gallstones / mortality
  • Gallstones / surgery*
  • Hospital Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / economics
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Pancreatitis / etiology
  • Pancreatitis / mortality
  • Pancreatitis / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment / economics
  • Time-to-Treatment / statistics & numerical data*