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AIDS in ICUs: outcome.
R Deam1, A P Kimberley, M Anderson
1Department of Anaesthetics, Westminster Hospital, London.
Anaesthesia
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Intensive care units in the UK admitted 32 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by 1986. High mortality (72%) was observed, especially for ventilated patients, highlighting critical care needs for AIDS patients.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented significant challenges to healthcare systems in the mid-1980s.
- Understanding the utilization and outcomes of intensive care units (ICUs) for AIDS patients was crucial for resource allocation and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey the admission patterns and outcomes of patients with AIDS in UK intensive care units.
- To identify common conditions leading to ICU admission and assess patient mortality rates.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to 93 intensive care units across the United Kingdom in January 1986.
- Data collected included patient demographics, reasons for admission, treatments received (e.g., artificial ventilation), and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Thirty-two AIDS patients were admitted to 12 ICUs up to January 1986.
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most frequent cause of respiratory failure (27 patients).
- Overall mortality was high at 72%, with 80% of ventilated patients dying.
Conclusions:
- Intensive care admission for AIDS patients in the UK was relatively low in early 1986 but associated with very high mortality.
- Respiratory failure, particularly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, was a primary driver for ICU admission and poor outcomes.