Mortality patterns in a medical intensive care unit

We studied the mortality rate and patterns in a 6-bedded Medical Intensive Care Unit in a busy general hospital. We found a high mortality rate (26% in-ICU and 42% in-hospitalization) and that mortality was strongly associated with the following factors: cardiac arrest, respirator support, duration of stay in ICU, infection and the immunocompromised state. Lack of formal patient selection and entry criteria and Critical-Care Specialists may be contributing factors.