Triage of Critically Ill Patients: Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Refused as Too Well for Intensive Care

The appropriate selection of patients for the intensive care unit (ICU) is a concern in acute care settings. However, the description of patients deemed too well for the ICU has been rarely reported.

We conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study of all patients either deemed "too well" for or admitted to the ICU during one year. Refused patients were screened for unexpected events within 7 days, defined as either ICU admission without another indication, or death without treatment limitations. Patients' characteristics and organisational factors were analysed according to refusal status, outcome and delay in ICU admission.

Among 2219 enrolled patients, the refusal rate was 10.4%. Refusal was associated with diagnostic groups, treatment limitations, patients' location on a ward, night time and ICU occupancy. Unexpected events occurred in 16 (6.9%) refused patients. A worse outcome was associated with time spent in hospital before refusal, patients' location on a ward, SOFA score and physician's expertise. Delayed ICU admissions were associated with ICU and hospital length of stay.

ICU triage selected safely most patients who would have probably not benefited from the ICU. We identified individual and organisational factors associated with ICU refusal, subsequent ICU admission or death.