Outcomes after intensive care unit admission of patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma

Abstract

No data are available on outcomes of patients with lymphoma requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We retrospectively studied 190 patients admitted to our ICU between 2000 and 2010, before or during the first chemotherapy course for lymphoma. Reasons for ICU admission were renal failure (36%), shock (28%), respiratory failure (26%), coma (22%) and monitoring (12%). Mechanical ventilation was needed in 45% of patients, dialysis in 41% and vasoactive drugs in 30%. ICU, hospital and 1-year mortality rates were 22%, 37% and 51%. By multivariate analysis, factors associated with higher hospital mortality were age > 50 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–4.9), poor performance status (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.47–6.54), high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (OR, 1.15/point; 95% CI, 1.04–1.27), hemophagocytic syndrome (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.03–6.40), Burkitt lymphoma (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 1.38–8.19) and primary cerebral lymphoma (OR, 7.32; 95% CI, 1.06–50.54). Admission after 2004 was associated with better survival (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15–0.78).