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Variability in outcome and resource use in intensive care units

Rothen, Hans ; Stricker, Kay ; Einfalt, Johanna ; Bauer, Peter ; Metnitz, Philip ; Moreno, Rui ; Takala, Jukka

In: Intensive Care Medicine, 2007, vol. 33, no. 8, p. 1329-1336

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    Titre
    • Variability in outcome and resource use in intensive care units
    Auteur
    • Rothen, Hans. Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010, Berne, Switzerland
    • Stricker, Kay. Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, 3010, Berne, Switzerland
    • Einfalt, Johanna. Department of Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
    • Bauer, Peter. Department of Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
    • Metnitz, Philip. Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
    • Moreno, Rui. Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de St. António dos Capuchos, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa (Zona Central), Lisbon, Portugal
    • Takala, Jukka. Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010, Berne, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:319460
    Summary
    Objective: To examine variability in outcome and resource use between ICUs. Secondary aims: to assess whether outcome and resource use are related to ICU structure and process, to explore factors associated with efficient resource use. Design and setting: Cohort study, based on the SAPS3 database in 275 ICUs worldwide. Patients: 16,560 adults. Measurements and results: Outcome was defined by standardized mortality rate (SMR). Standardized resource use (SRU) was calculated based on length of stay in the ICU, adjusted for severity of acute illness. Each unit was assigned to one of four groups: "most efficient” (SMR and SRU < median); "least efficient” (SMR, SRU > median); "overachieving” (low SMR, high SRU), "underachieving” (high SMR, low SRU). Univariate analysis and stepwise logistic regression were used to test for factors separating "most” from "least efficient” units. Overall median SMR was 1.00 (IQR 0.77-1.28) and SRU 1.07 (0.76-1.58). There were 91 "most efficient”, 91 "least efficient”, 47 "overachieving”, and 46 "underachieving” ICUs. Number of physicians, of full-time specialists, and of nurses per bed, clinical rounds, availability of physicians, presence of emergency department, and geographical region were significant in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis only interprofessional rounds, emergency department, and geographical region entered the model as significant. Conclusions: Despite considerable variability in outcome and resource use only few factors of ICU structure and process were associated with efficient use of ICU. This suggests that other confounding factors play an important role