Admission time and mortality rates

Objective. The objective of this study was to determine whether there there are any associations between time of admission and mortality rates in the pediatric intensive care unit. Methods. We analyzed retrospectively 210 consecutive admissions to the PICU from November 2005 to April 2006 for patients aged 1 mth to 18 yr. Results. There was no significant difference for overall mortality rates between weekend and weekday admissions (12.2% vs 17.4%, p=0.245), and daytime and evening admissions (11.3 % vs 15.4%, p=0.254). There was also no significant difference between different admission times for within 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours mortality rates. Conclusions. In respect of the overall mortality rates, it can be said that in a closed system PICU management under the control of a pediatric intensivist there is no association between time of admission and mortality rates.