The effects of discharge to an intermediate care unit after a critical illness: A 5-year cohort study

Abstract

PurposeThe impact of the intermediate care unit (IMCU) on post–intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes is controversial. Materials and MethodsWe analyzed admissions from January 2003 to December 2008 from a mixed ICU in a teaching hospital in Brazil with a high patient-to-nurse ratio (3.5:1 on the ICU, 11:1 on the IMCU, 20-25:1 on the ward). A retrospective propensity-matched analysis was performed with data from 690 patients who were discharged after at least 3 days of ICU stay. ResultsOf the 690 patients, 160 (23%) were discharged to the IMCU. A total of 399 propensity-matched patients were compared: 298 were discharged to the ward and 101 were discharged to the IMCU. Ninety-day mortality rate was similar between the IMCU and ward patients (22% vs 18%, respectively, P = .37), as was the unplanned ICU readmission rate (P = .63). In a multivariate logistic regression, discharge to the IMCU had no effect on the 90-day mortality rate (P = .27). ConclusionsIn a resource-limited setting with a high patient-to-nurse ratio, discharge to IMCU had no impact on 90-day mortality rate and on unplanned readmission rate. The impact of discharge to the IMCU on the outcome for critically ill patients should be evaluated in further studies.