Korean J Anesthesiol.  2005 Jun;48(6):S34-S37. 10.4097/kjae.2005.48.6.S34.

Clinical Characteristics of the Patients Who Died Despite of Low APACHE II Score after Intensive Care

• Chang CH
• Lee KY
• Nam SB
• Bae JW
• Shin CS

• KMID: 2238946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2005.48.6.S34

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score is considered to be a precise predictor of mortality and a useful basic research tool. A lower APACHE II score means a better prognosis of patients, which means that these relatively low risk patients are more likely to benefit from the improved patient management than the higher predicted mortality admissions. Therefore, these patients are obvious targets for intensive care and for decreasing the level of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality.
METHODS
This study reviewed the medical records of 729 patients, whose APACHE II scores on the ICU admission day were 10 or less, from June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002 in University Hospital. The data of the patient's age, gender, disease category, first admission or readmission, APACHE II score, length of stay at the ICU and the hospital were reviewed.
RESULTS
The average mortality rate of the patients who had an APACHE II score of 10 or less was 4.1%. The mortality of the cancer patients (8%) was significantly higher than the other disease groups. The mortality of the readmitted patients was significantly higher than the mortality of the patients who were admitted to the ICU for the first time.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the patients in the ICU with a low APACHE II score, the mortality of cancer patients was high. The mortality of the readmitted patients was significantly higher than in those on the first admission.

Keyword

APACHE II score; intensive care unit; mortality

MeSH Terms

APACHE*
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Critical Care*
Length of Stay
Medical Records
Mortality
Prognosis