Boston-based Harvard University researchers found older physicians had a higher patient mortality rate than their younger counterparts, according to Medical Economics.
Researchers analyzed 700,000 patients, which 19,000 physicians treated, between 2011 and 2014. Every patient was on Medicare and was 65 years or older.
Here's what they found:
1. Among physicians under 40 years old, their patients had a 10.8 percent 30-day morality rate.
2. Physicians between 41 and 49 years old had an 11.1 percent 30-day mortality rate.
3. Physicians between ages 50 and 59 years old had an 11.3 percent 30-day mortality rate.
4. Among physicians older than 60, they had a 30-day mortality rate of 12.1 percent.