RETRACTED: Admission on weekends does not increase mortality after hip fracture: a meta-analysis of 1.4 million patients

Abstract

Background The “weekend” effect resulting in increased complication rates in patients admitted on weekends has been noted in many diseases. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to collate adjusted data from published studies to assess if admission on weekends as compared to weekdays increases mortality rates in hip fracture patients. Methods Databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched up to 31st December 2022 for studies comparing mortality between weekend versus weekday admission of hip fracture patients. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were pooled. Results Fourteen studies including 1,487,986 patients were analyzed. Most studies were from Europe and North America. Results showed no difference in mortality rates of hip fracture patients admitted on weekends versus weekdays (HR: 1.00 95% 0.96, 1.04 I2 = 75%). There was no publication bias and results did not change on the leave-one-out analysis. Subgroup analysis based on sample size and treatment did not change outcomes. Conclusion This meta-analysis has shown no apparent weekend effect in cases of hip fractures. Patients admitted on weekends had similar mortality rates as compared to those admitted on weekdays. Current data has high heterogeneity and is mostly from developed countries.

Retraction of manuscripts: An exercise to ensure scholarly correctness and academic integrity

“…We all have observed the impact of weekends on our approaches to admissions and discharge, Guo and Liu contributed to this issue of SMJ through re-assurance that mortality is not affected by weekend admissions in hip fracture patients. 5 Irfan Kucuk and colleagues used magnetic resonance cholangopancreatograms to ascertain the presence of common bile duct stones and then their absence at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was used as a definition for 'spontaneous expulsion'. 6 I must mention the article by Taribagil et al 7 before closing my comments.…”

Systematic reviews and data analyses: Guide to clinical practice and research

“…The range of topics of systematic reviews. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] in this issue has been wide and not focusing on a particular problem, however, publications should generate awareness, some glimpse into methodology and associated discussions around evidence-based medicine.Evidence-based medicine is a combination of individual clinical knowledge and the results of clinical trials. And as a doctor, there is a great need for some strong evidence to support his diagnosis and treatment and all aspects of it.…”

“…The range of topics of systematic reviews. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] in this issue has been wide and not focusing on a particular problem, however, publications should generate awareness, some glimpse into methodology and associated discussions around evidence-based medicine.…”