A Clinical Analysis of Intensive Care Unit Admissions Using APACHE II Scoring System

Kim, Gab Dong; Choe, Hyeon Kyu; Lee, Sang Kyi; Song, He Sun

Abstract

To investigate the mortality rate of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Chonbuk National University Hospital, 171 ICU patients who had been admitted from March 1, 1988 to February 28, 1989 were analysed using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system, which uses a point score based upon initial values of 12 routine physiologic measurements, age and previous healthe status to provide a general measure of severity of disease. The overall mortality rate of 171 ICU patients was 42.7% and the mortality rate of both sexes was nearly the same. All patients with an APACHE II score over 30 died and nobody died with a score below 9 points. The mortality rate of patients with surgical operation was than that of patients without surgery. Forty-seven patients had a score range of 15-19 which was the most frequent score range in 171 ICU admissions. There was a close relationship between mortality rate and APACHE II scores [overall mortality rate=3.2 x APACHE II score-11(r=0 90, p<0.001, n=171)]. It is conculded that the APACHE II scoring system is a useful method to predict the mortality rate in ICU admissions, and its use is recommended to compare the success of the efficacy of intensive care in different hospitals and doctors and to evaluate the use of hospital resources.