In-hospital mortality of patients admitted to the intermediate care unit in hospitals with and without an intensive care unit: a nationwide inpatient database study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intermediate care units (IMCUs) provide care for patients who need more intensive treatment than general wards but less than intensive care units (ICUs). Although the concept of an IMCU requires co-location with an ICU, some hospitals have IMCUs but no ICUs, which potentially worsens patient outcomes. This study aimed to examine the annual trends and care processes, and compare the outcomes of patients admitted to IMCUs in hospitals with and without ICUs using a nationwide inpatient database in Japan.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2016 to 2022 using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination Database and Hospital Bed Function Reports in Japan. The main exposure was admission to the IMCU in hospitals with and without ICUs. The primary outcome

SUBMITTER: Ohbe H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11744974 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature