Factors associated with death and readmission into the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

This study identifies the factors associated with death and readmission into the Intensive Care Unit. This is a longitudinal prospective study of 600 adult patients admitted in general Intensive Care Units of four hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. The multiple regression analysis showed that patients with a longer length of stay and higher Nursing Activities Score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score on the last day in the unit had a higher chance of death. Nevertheless, higher Nursing Activities Score and Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score on the first day in the intensive care unit were protective factors against death. Viral hepatitis as an antecedent increased the chance of readmission. On the other hand, higher Nursing Activities Score at discharge decreased this risk. It was concluded that the nursing workload was the main variable related to the outcomes analyzed.