Patients with systemic rheumatic diseases admitted to the intensive care unit: what the rheumatologist needs to know

Patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) may require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) throughout the course of their disease. Therefore, the rheumatologist needs an understanding of the factors which may influence the course of patients with SRDs who are admitted to ICU. These include the causes for admission, patient characteristics including comorbidities and drug therapies, outcome (in-ICU mortality and causes of death), and prognostic factors. Infections and exacerbation/complications of SRDs are the most common (and potentially reversible) reasons for both admission and death on ICU. Mortality in patients with SRDs admitted to ICU has been reported to be either no different or higher than 'general' ICU patients. Reported prognostic factors included patient and disease characteristics, as well as ICU factors, including scoring systems. Rheumatologists need to be aware of the factors surrounding admission of patients with SRDs to ICU, including the need for strong links with critical care medicine.