Huang HK, et al. - In this nationwide cohort study, researchers used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to assess if “holiday season” and “weekend” effects exist on mortality risk for stroke admission. This study included all stroke admissions between 2011 and 2015 in Taiwan. Based on the admission date, these were classified as holiday season (at least 4 days off; n=3,908), weekend (n=13,774), and weekday (n=49,045). The investigators used multivariable logistic regression to determine in-hospital, 7-day, and 30-day mortality after adjusting for stroke severity and other confounders. For the first time, it was evident in this study that stroke mortality may be influenced by a “holiday season effect”. Compared with patients admitted on weekends and weekdays, higher mortality risks were observed among patients admitted during holiday seasons. Even following adjustment for stroke severity and other significant confounders, this holiday season effect was evident.