The Relationship Between Social Deprivation and a Weekend Emergency Medical Admission.
Acute Med. 2016;15(3):124-129
Authors: Conway R, Cournane S, Byrne D, O'Riordan D, Coveney S, Silke B
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Deprivation increases admission rates; the specific effect of deprivation with regard to weekend admissions is unknown.
METHODS: We calculated annual weekend admission rates for each small area population unit and related these to quintiles of Deprivation Index from 2002-2014. Univariate and multivariable risk estimates were calculated using truncated Poisson regression.
RESULTS: There were 30,794 weekend admissions in 16,665 patients. The admission rate was substantially higher for more deprived areas, 12.7 per 1000 (95%CI 9.4, 14.7) vs 4.6 per 1000 (95%CI 3.3, 5.8). More deprived patients admitted at the weekend had a significantly lower 30-day in-hospital mortality (10.3% vs 14.5%, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Deprivation is a powerful determinant of weekend admissions, however these comprise a group of patients with better outcomes.
PMID: 27759746 [PubMed - in process]