Patients with acute leukemia were more likely to experience hospital-mortality if they were admitted over the weekend vs during a weekday, according to a study involving nearly 83,000 leukemia admissions. Investigators identified participants diagnosed with leukemia using the 2002-2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, looking at weekend/weekday admissions and hospital-mortality. Among the results:

• Overall, acute leukemia admissions declined by 22% in 2014 vs 2002.
• In-hospital mortality declined from 19% to 15%.
• 17% of admissions occurred over the weekend.
• Hospital mortality rate was 19% among weekend admissions and 16% in those admitted during the week.
• 28% of weekend admissions received early bone marrow biopsy, compared with 46% of those admitted during the week.
• Patients who received bone marrow biopsy had 64% lower odds of hospital-mortality.
• Those admitted to a teaching hospital had 35% lower odds of such.
• Patients admitted over a weekend had 12% higher odds of hospital-mortality.
• They were also more likely to experience complications (51% vs 48%).