The epidemiology of acute respiratory failure in hospitalized patients: A Brazilian prospective cohort study

• Published in: Journal of critical care 2011-06, Vol.26 (3), p.330.e1-330.e8
• Main Authors: Franca, Suelene Aires, MD, Toufen, Carlos, MD, Hovnanian, André Luiz D., MD, Albuquerque, André Luís P., MD, Borges, Eduardo R., MD, Pizzo, Vladimir R.P., MD, Carvalho, Carlos Roberto Ribeiro, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Acute respiratory failure; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Brazil - epidemiology; Critical Care; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Incidence; Intensive care; Intensive care unit; Intensive Care Units - statistics & numerical data; Male; Mechanical ventilation; Middle Aged; Mortality; Multivariable analysis; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Insufficiency - epidemiology; Respiratory Insufficiency - mortality; Respiratory therapy; Risk Factors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0883-9441; 1557-8615
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2010.10.010

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors associated with the development of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and death in a general intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods Adults who were hospitalized at 12 surgical and nonsurgical ICUs were prospectively followed up. Multivariable analyses were realized to determine the risk factors for ARF and point out the prognostic factors for mortality in these patients. Results A total of 1732 patients were evaluated, with an ARF prevalence of 57%. Of the 889 patients who were admitted without ARF, 141 (16%) developed this syndrome in the ICU. The independent risk factors for developing ARF were 64 years of age or older, longer time between hospital and ICU admission, unscheduled surgical or clinical reason for ICU admission, and severity of illness. Of the 984 patients with ARF, 475 (48%) died during the ICU stay. Independent prognostic factors for death were age older than 64 years, time between hospital and ICU admission of more than 4 days, history of hematologic malignancy or AIDS, the development of ARF in ICU, acute lung injury, and severity of illness. Conclusions Acute respiratory failure represents a large percentage of all ICU patients, and the high mortality is related to some preventable factors such as the time to ICU admission.