Aims: Objective data on epidemiology, management and outcome of patients with acute cardiac illness are still scarce, and producing evidence-based guidelines remains an issue. In order to define the clinical characteristics and the potential predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality, we performed a retrospective, observational study, in a tertiary cardiac centre in Italy.
Methods: One thousand one hundred and sixty-five consecutive patients, admitted to our intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) during the year 2016, were included in the study. The data were collected from the hospital discharge summary and the electronic chart records.
Results: Global in-hospital mortality was 7.2%. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were age [odds ratio (OR): 2.0; P = 0.011], female sex (OR: 2.18; P = 0.003), cardiac arrest (OR: 12.21; P = 0.000), heart failure/cardiogenic shock (OR: 9.99; P = 0.000), sepsis/septic shock (OR: 5.54; P = 0.000), acute kidney injury (OR: 3.25; P = 0.021) and a primary diagnosis of acute heart failure or a condition other than acute heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. During a mean follow-up period of 17.4 ± 4.8 months, 96 all-cause deaths occurred in patients who were still alive at discharge. One-year mortality rate was 8.2%. Predictors of long-term mortality were age (hazard ratio: 1.08; P = 0.000), female sex (hazard ratio: 0.59; P = 0.022), comorbidity at least 3 (hazard ratio: 1,60; P = 0.047), acute kidney injury (hazard ratio: 3.15; P = 0.001), inotropic treatment (hazard ratio: 2.54; P = 0.002) and a primary diagnosis of acute heart failure.
Conclusion: In our Level-2 ICCU, predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality are similar to those commonly found in a Level-3 ICU. These data strongly suggest that ICUs dealing with acute cardiovascular patients should be reorganized with a necessary upgrading of competences and resources for medical and nursing staff.