Background

To determine mortality for children, aged 6 months–16 years, treated in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) or adult intensive care units (AICUs) or transferred from AICU to PICU in Sweden.

Methods

A retrospective, multicentre, 3-year cohort study. Name, social security number, admission and discharge dates were collected from March 1998 to March 2001, after securing ethics committee approval. Using the national files of registration, mortality could be assessed.

Results

Fifty-five of 75 AICUs and all PICUs (n = 3) generated data. A total of 5757 patients (male/female 1.3:1) were admitted, estimated as > 90% of all patients of this period. A total of 1985 patients were primarily admitted to PICUs and 3772 patients to AICUs. Of the latter, 90 patients were transferred. The 1-year mortality for patients in AICUs, in PICUs or transferred was 2.8% (n = 110), 3.6% (n = 72) and 12% (n = 11). Mean length of stay was 1 day in both ICU groups. Accountable days in ICUs was 6370.

Conclusion

Overall 1-year mortality was relatively low (< 4%) (male = female). However, we noted an elevated risk of death beyond 3 years after discharge. The higher mortality in the small transferred group could reflect a lack of available PICU beds. Based on these figures six beds, with 100% usage, would meet the total requirement of ICU beds for this age range in Sweden.

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