Heart Attach and Hospitals

When not to go to a hospital

A recent study conducted by a fourth-year medical student concludes that in the state of New Jersey people who have a heart attack on the weekend were measurably more likely to die than those who had one during the week.

Reported in the New York Times and based on analysis of more than 230,000 heart attack patients admitted to Garden State hospitals from 1987 to 2002, the study found that in the latter part of this time range (1999 to 2002), 12.9% of those hospitalized for heart attacks on the weekend died, while only 12% of those brought in for heart attacks during the week perished.

The Times piece characterizes this difference as a 1% greater likelihood of dying when hospitalized for a heart attack on the weekend as opposed to during the work-week.

Could it be because green doctors tend to get stuck with the weekends while the veterans are at home.?