Weekly and seasonal variation of hospital admissions and outcome in patients with acute lower limb ischaemia treated by surgical and endovascular means

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate weekly and seasonal va riation of hospital admissions, major amputations and mortality in patients treated for acute leg ischaemia by surgical and endovascular procedures. Methods. Experimental design: Retrospective study. Setting: University (5), central (16) and district (4) hospitals participat ing in the Finnish national vascular registry Finnvasc. Patients: 1550 pati ents treated for acute leg ischaemia on the basis of the registry. Interven tions: Surgical or endovascular revascularisation. Measures: Day of the wee k of hospital admission, major amputation and death. Results. The weekly pattern of the hospital admissions was significantly no n-uniform with a Monday peak and a weekend nadir. A tendency towards more h ospital admissions in the winter season was found. Patients hospitalised on Thursday or Friday tended to have a lower amputation rate compared to thos e hospitalised in any other day of week. The highest amputation and mortali ty rates were observed in the summer season. Conclusions. Patients with acute leg ischaemia seek medical help in a non-u niform weekly and seasonal pattern with varying outcomes.