Shannon M Fernando1, Sean M Bagshaw2, Bram Rochwerg3, Daniel I McIsaac4, Kednapa Thavorn5, Alan J Forster6, Alexandre Tran7, Peter M Reardon8, Erin Rosenberg9, Peter Tanuseputro10, Kwadwo Kyeremanteng11. 1. Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: sfernando@qmed.ca. 2. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 4. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 5. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 6. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 7. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 8. Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 9. Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 10. School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 11. Division of Critical Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Institut du Savoir Montfort, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is wide variation in the utilization of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for treatment and monitoring of adult patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). We sought to compare the outcomes and hospital costs of adult DKA patients admitted to ICUs as compared to those admitted to step-down units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included consecutive adult patients from two hospitals with a diagnosis of DKA. Patients were either admitted to the ICU, or a step-down unit, which has a nurse-to-patient ratio of 2:1, but does not have capability for mechanical ventilation or administration of vasoactive agents. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We included 872 patients in the analysis. 71 (8.1%) were admitted to ICU, while 801 (91.9%) were admitted to a step-down unit. We found no difference in in-hospital mortality between patients admitted to the ICU and those admitted to the step-down unit (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-2.64). Mean total hospital costs were significantly higher for patients admitted to the ICU ($20,428 vs. $6484, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adult DKA patients admitted to a step-down unit had comparable in-hospital mortality and lower hospital costs as compared to those admitted to the ICU.
PURPOSE: There is wide variation in the utilization of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds for treatment and monitoring of adult patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). We sought to compare the outcomes and hospital costs of adult DKA patients admitted to ICUs as compared to those admitted to step-down units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included consecutive adult patients from two hospitals with a diagnosis of DKA. Patients were either admitted to the ICU, or a step-down unit, which has a nurse-to-patient ratio of 2:1, but does not have capability for mechanical ventilation or administration of vasoactive agents. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We included 872 patients in the analysis. 71 (8.1%) were admitted to ICU, while 801 (91.9%) were admitted to a step-down unit. We found no difference in in-hospital mortality between patients admitted to the ICU and those admitted to the step-down unit (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-2.64). Mean total hospital costs were significantly higher for patients admitted to the ICU ($20,428 vs. $6484, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adult DKA patients admitted to a step-down unit had comparable in-hospital mortality and lower hospital costs as compared to those admitted to the ICU.
Authors: Tara Kaushal; Katherine Lord; Robert Olsen; Sanjiv Mehta; Stephanie Clark; Benjamin Laskin; Danielle Traynor; April Taylor; Kathy N Shaw; Vijay Srinivasan Journal: Pediatr Qual Saf Date: 2020-02-15