Immediate and long-term survival in patients admitted to a respiratory ICU.

Of 458 patients admitted to a respiratory ICU over a 1-yr period, 65% required positive-pressure ventilation and 10% received continuous positive airway pressure by face mask. The average ICU stay was 7 days. The overall mortality of 19% depended largely on the medical disease precipitating admission but also increased in patients over 60 yr of age. Of 359 patients discharged from the hospital, 226 were followed for at least 18 months. Of these, 65% made a full recovery, 21% partially recovered, and 13% died.