Journal-based CME Course: Use of Life Support and Outcomes Among Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units

Activity ID

14306

Expires

April 14, 2028

Format Type

Journal-based

CME Credit

1

Fee

30

CME Provider: JAMA

Description of CME Course

Importance  Nationwide data are unavailable regarding changes in intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes and use of life support over the past 10 years, limiting understanding of practice changes.

Objective  To portray the epidemiology of US critical care before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design, Setting, and Participants  Retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to an ICU for any reason, using data from the 54 US health systems continuously contributing to the Epic Cosmos database from 2014-2023.

Exposures  Patient demographics, COVID-19 status, and pandemic era.

Main Outcomes and Measures  In-hospital mortality unadjusted and adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, and illness severity; ICU length of stay; and receipt of life-support interventions, including mechanical ventilation and vasopressor medications.

Results  Of 3 453 687 admissions including ICU care, median age was 65 (IQR, 53-75) years. Patients were 55.3% male; 17.3% Black and 6.1% Hispanic or Latino; and overall in-hospital mortality was 10.9%. The adjusted in-hospital mortality was elevated during the pandemic in COVID-negative (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.3 [95% CI, 1.2-1.3]) and COVID-positive (aOR, 4.3 [95% CI, 3.8-4.8]) patients and returned to baseline by mid-2022. The median ICU length of stay was 2.1 (IQR, 1.1-4.2) days, with increases during the pandemic among COVID-positive patients (difference for COVID-positive vs COVID-negative patients, 2.0 days [95% CI, 2.0-2.1]). Rates of invasive mechanical ventilation were 23.2% (95% CI, 23.1%-23.2%) before the pandemic, increased to 25.8% (95% CI, 25.8%-25.9%) during the pandemic, and declined below prepandemic baseline thereafter (22.0% [95% CI, 21.9%-22.2%]). The use of vasopressors increased from 7.2% to 21.6% of ICU stays.

Conclusions and Relevance  Pandemic-era increases in length of stay and adjusted in-hospital mortality among US ICU patients returned to recent historical baselines. Fewer patients are now receiving mechanical ventilation than prior to the pandemic, while more patients are administered vasopressor medications.

Disclaimers

1. This activity is accredited by the American Medical Association.
2. This activity is free to AMA members.

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