Summary of demographic data and outcomes for patients admitted to an ICU with asthma/allergy, 1996–2003
| ICU, intensive care unit; IQR, interquartile range; SD, standard deviation. | |
| *Chronic respiratory disease is defined as chronic restrictive, obstructive or vascular respiratory disease resulting in severe exercise restriction, ie, unable to climb stairs or perform household duties; or documented chronic hypoxia, hypercapnia, secondary polycythaemia, severe pulmonary hypertension (>40 mm Hg) or respiratory dependency. | |
| Total number of admissions to ICU | 1899 |
| Total number of patients (after exclusion of readmissions) | 1858 |
| Mean (SD) age (years) | 39.6 (18.4) |
| Proportion of admissions ⩽16 years of age | 7.9% (150/1899) |
| Proportion of admissions >45 years of age | 35.5% (675/1899) |
| Proportion female | 64.8% (1229/1899) |
| Proportion of admissions listed as having comorbid chronic respiratory conditions* | 16.9% (314/1858) |
| Median (IQR) duration of ICU stay (h) | 38 (18.7–72.0) |
| Proportion ventilated in first 24 h | 36.1% (685/1898) |
| Median (SD) predicted risk of death from APACHE II score | 3.9% (5.6) |
| Observed mortality | 3.20% (60/1866) |