Caring for critically ill patients outside intensive care units due to full units: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of critically ill patients who were denied intensive care unit admission due to the unavailability of beds and to estimate the direct costs of treatment. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed with critically ill patients treated in a university hospital. All consecutive patients denied intensive care unit beds due to a full unit from February 2012 to February 2013 were included. The data collected included clinical data, calculation of costs, prognostic scores, and outcomes. The patients were followed for data collection until intensive care unit admission or cancellation of the request for the intensive care unit bed. Vital status at hospital discharge was noted, and patients were classified as survivors or non-survivors considering this endpoint. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-four patients were analyzed. Patients were predominantly male (54.6%), and the median age was 62 (interquartile range (ITQ): 47 - 73) years. The median APACHE II score was 22.5 (ITQ: 16 - 29). Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 298 patients (65.6%), and vasoactive drugs were used in 44.9% of patients. The median time of follow-up was 3 days (ITQ: 2 - 6); after this time, 204 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and 250 had the intensive care unit bed request canceled. The median total cost per patient was US$ 5,945.98. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presented a high severity in terms of disease scores, had multiple organ dysfunction and needed multiple invasive therapeutic interventions. The study patients received intensive care with specialized consultation during their stay in the hospital wards and presented high costs of treatment.

Prediction of chronic critical illness in a general intensive care unit / Predição de doença crítica crônica em uma unidade geral de cuidados intensivos resumo

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence, costs, and mortality associated with chronic critical illness (CCI), and to identify clinical predictors of CCI in a general intensive care unit. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study. All patients receiving supportive treatment for over 20 days were considered chronically critically ill and eligible for the study. After applying the exclusion criteria, 453 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: There was an 11% incidence of CCI. Total length of hospital stay, costs, and mortality were significantly higher among patients with CCI. Mechanical ventilation, sepsis, Glasgow score < 15, inadequate calorie intake, and higher body mass index were independent predictors for cci in the multivariate logistic regression model. CONCLUSIONS: CCI affects a distinctive population in intensive care units with higher mortality, costs, and prolonged hospitalization. Factors identifiable at the time of admission or during the first week in the intensive care unit can be used to predict CCI.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência, custos e mortalidade relacionados a doença crítica crônica (DCC) e identificar seus preditores clínicos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva geral. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de uma coorte observacional prospectiva. Todos pacientes que recebiam tratamento de suporte por mais de 20 dias eram considerados doentes críticos crônicos. Permaneceram 453 pacientes após a aplicação dos critérios de exclusão. RESULTADOS: A incidência de DCC foi de 11%. Permanência hospitalar, custos e mortalidade foram significativamente maiores na população com DCC. Ventilação mecânica, sepse, Glasgow escore < 15, inadequada ingestão calórica e elevado índice de massa corporal foram preditores independentes para dcc em um modelo multivariado de regressão logística. CONCLUSÃO: DCC abrangeumadistintapopulaçãonasunidadesde terapiaintensiva apresentando maiores mortalidade, custos e permanência hospitalar. Alguns fatores presentes na admissão ou durante a primeira semana na unidade de terapia intensiva podem ser usados como preditores de DCC.