Severity of patients admitted to a Brazilian teaching hospital Intensive Care Unit - Critical Care Science (CCS)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the morbidity and the mortality of critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit in a teaching hospital, using the APACHE II score. METHODS: Descriptive and retrospective study, with analysis of 300 patients admitted to ICU from March 2004 to July 2005. RESULTS: Of the 300 patients admitted to ICU, 51.7% were men, average 54.2 ± 19.57 years and 78% from the wards of the teaching hospital itself. There was more prevalence of patients aged 60 years or older (43%). The main dysfunctions were from the respiratory and cardiocirculatory systems. Length of stay in ICU was 7.51 ± 8.21 days. The mean of APACHE II was 16.48 ± 7.67, with meaningful difference between survivors and deceased patients. The real mortality rate in ICU was 32.7%, without meaningful difference between patients that died before or after 48 hours. The standardized mortality ratio was 1.1. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the severity of the patients admitted to ICU, the standardized mortality ratio suggests a satisfactory quality in the service.