Prolonged Stay in Intensive Care Unit and Its Predictors in a Tertiary Care Centre of West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is considered as one of the most expensive and complex medical resources of any hospital. Research on ICUs may provide valuable inputs in developing an improved model of patient-care and hospital management and a better utilisation of the scarce resources especially in this ongoing pandemic crisis. ICU Length of Stay has long been used as a surrogate marker for resource utilisation. The following study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital of West Bengal to find out the prevalence of prolonged ICU stay and their related factors. Methodology: This was an Observational, descriptive type study conducted in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital of West Bengal during April-September 2021. Potential predictors were analysed along with various clinicodemographic profiles of the study subjects for possible association with prolonged ICU-Length of Stay (LOS >14days). Results and Discussion: Out of total 287 patients almost 19% patients had a Length of Stay (LOS) of more than 14 days. The patients admitted in the ICU due to surgical trauma, respiratory or neurological cases were more likely to have a prolonged LOS. Patient who had Coagulopathy, Infection, Oliguria or needed Mechanical ventilation or Vasopressor therapy in the first 24-hour following admission had higher ICU stay. The patients having LOS of >14 days had a higher mean APACHE II score. Conclusion: The predictors identified in this study can be used in targeting this particular group to improve resource utilization and efficiency of ICU