Heart Attack Patients More Likely to Die During the Weekend?

Data published by researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation suggests that people who have heart attacks during the weekend are slightly more likely to die than those who suffer heart attacks on a weekday.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, notes an increase in mortality of about 1%, a number that sounds small, but becomes large when considered against the fact that about 700,000 Americans have a heart attack each year.

While the exact reasons for the increased risk are not completely clear, there is some data to suggest that a contributing factor may be that people admitted to hospitals on the weekend are less likely to receive strict, guideline specific care.

Other researchers have countered that the data used in the study is several years old, and that newer initiatives by organizations such as the American Heart Association, may have already corrected the problem.

You should never delay seeking medical attention if you suspect you are having a heart attack. The risk of death from an untreated heart attack is very high, and your chances of living are greatly increased by prompt medical care, regardless of whether it is Saturday or wednesday.