West R R, Carey M J
Br Med J. 1978 Jun 24;1(6128):1662-4. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6128.1662.
In a study designed to investigate the variations in rates of admission to hospital for appendicitis in Wales Hospital Activity Analysis listings were analysed according to the sex and age of the patients and the month and day of the week of admission. The incidence of hospitalisation was greatest among boys aged 10-14 and girls aged 15-19. The number of admissions was higher on weekdays than at weekends, but there were no seasonal variations. Durations of stay differed between the 17 health districts. We conclude that admission rates vary mainly because of differing hospital admission policies. Admission is not wholly governed by the sudden onset of abdominal pain; other factors include the threshold of consultation of each patient, the referral habits of general practitioners, the availability of hospital beds, and the degree to which doctors and patients expect admission.
在一项旨在调查威尔士阑尾炎住院率变化情况的研究中，对医院活动分析清单按照患者的性别、年龄以及入院的月份和星期几进行了分析。住院率在10至14岁的男孩和15至19岁的女孩中最高。工作日的入院人数高于周末，但不存在季节性变化。17个健康区的住院时长有所不同。我们得出结论，住院率的差异主要是由于不同的医院入院政策。入院并非完全由腹痛的突然发作决定；其他因素包括每个患者的就诊阈值、全科医生的转诊习惯、医院床位的可获得性以及医生和患者对入院的期望程度。
