Direct and delayed admissions to ICU in older medical patients

Acute Med. 2018;17(2):83-90.

Abstract

The aims of this retrospective cohort study were to retrieve characteristics and outcomes of older (65+) medical patients who are directly admitted to ICU from the ED and to compare these with those admitted to ICU from a ward. Of 1396 patients, 21 (1.5%) were directly admitted to ICU and 54 (3.9%) after a delay. Blood pressure was lower and respiratory rate higher in the direct than in the delayed group. The direct group had lower mortality (28-day: 19.0 vs. 38.9%, p=0.14; 1-year: 42.9 vs. 66.7%; p=0.06), shorter length-of-stay and returned more frequently to independent living than the delayed group. Only a fraction of older patients are admitted to ICU; directly admitted patients tend to have better outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Admission / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Transfer / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies