Sex and gender aspects on intensive care. A cohort study

To investigate if patient sex affects intensive care unit (ICU) admission and discharge patterns. Specifically, we investigate if the patients sex affects length of stay (LOS) and probability of ICU discharge and 30- and 90-day mortality.

In a retrospective cohort study with 8598 adult patients admitted between 2006 and 2016 to a university hospital ICU in Stockholm, Sweden, we analysed ICU-LOS using univariate and multivariable quantile regression, and performed a competing risk regression model to assess the association between probability of discharge and sex. Mortality was analysed using logistic regression.

Of 8598 included patients, 37% were women. No differences in age or median severity illness scores were found. After excluding trauma patients men were older, had a higher Charlson Co-morbidity Index, higher median SAPS 3 and higher probability of mortality than women. Women had a higher probability of being discharged from the ICU. There were no differences in 30- or 90-day mortality.

In this large cohort study of critically ill patients we have shown that women and men had an equal length of stay, but women had a significantly higher probability of being discharged. There was no difference in mortality between women and men.