[Patients with systemic disease admitted to intensive care units: course and prognostic factors]

Based on our experience, hospitalization in intensive care units of patients with systemic diseases occurs several years after diagnosis. Though mortality ranges from 30 to 45%, it is not statistically different from that in unselected patients. Outcome is clearly related to controllable infectious complications. Three other prognosis factors are the gravity of the patient's status at admission (APACHE or IGS scores), corticosteroid therapy and prior health status. Long-term prognosis for patients discharged from intensive care is good with a 30% mortality at 5 years despite the irreversible nature of their disease.