Epidemiologic and demographic aspects and causes of hospitalization and mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units of Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2011-2015

Abstract

Background: Previous studies showed that mortality rate in intensive care units is high but etiology of this problem has not been studied completely. So, this study aimed to determine epidemiologic and demographic aspects and causes of hospitalization and mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 400 patients hospitalized during 2011-2015 in intensive care units of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were studied. Demographic data, clinical findings, mortality, and causes of hospitalization were extracted from hospital records and role of the factors on the mortality were investigated. Findings: Of 400 hospitalized patients in intensive care units during 2011-2014, 138 (34.5) died, 44 (31.9) of them in the first day, 55 (39.9) during 1st-6th days, 28 (20.3) during 7th-12th days, and 11 (8.0) during 13th-24th days after hospitalization in intensive care units. Among factors that related to mortality, vital signs at the entrance to intensive care unit, underlying disease, time of hospitalization in intensive care unit, and some of laboratory findings had significant effect on mortality. Conclusion: Mortality rate in intensive care units of Alzahra hospital is high. Therefore, special care facilities considering patient characteristics and causes of mortality in this sector should be provided. © Journal of Isfahan Medical School. All rights reserved.