Risk factors and outcomes of critically ill patients with acute brain failure: A novel end point

Tarun D. Singh, John C. O'Horo, Ognjen Gajic, Amra Sakusic, Courtney N. Day, Jay Mandrekar, Rahul Kashyap, Dereddi Raja Shekar Reddy, Alejandro A. Rabinstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of acute brain failure (ABF) in a mixed medical and surgical cohort of critically ill patients and its effect on ICU & hospital mortality. Design Observational electronic medical record (EMR) based retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU between 2006 and 2013. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Patients Consecutive adult (> 18 years) critically ill patients admitted to medical and surgical ICUs. Patients admitted to the Neuroscience, Pediatric and Neonatal ICUs were excluded. Interventions None. Measurements and main results ABF was defined by the presence of delirium (positive CAM-ICU) or depressed level of consciousness (by abnormal GCS and FOUR scores) in the absence of deep sedation (RASS < − 3). Severity of ABF was categorized as grade I if there was delirium with GCS consistently > 8 and grade II if the GCS was ≤ 8 with or without delirium during the ICU hospitalization. ABF duration was not used for this study. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to access the factors associated with the development of ABF and its effect on short and long term mortality. Of 67,333 ICU patients included in the analysis, ABF was present in 30,610 (44.6%). Patients with ABF had an isolated delirium in 1985 (6.5%) patients, isolated depressed consciousness in 18,323 (59.9%), and both delirium and depressed consciousness in 10,302 (33.6%) patients. When adjusted for comorbidities and severity of illness ABF was associated with increased hospital (OR 3.47; 95% CI 3.19–3.79), and at one year (OR 2.36; 95% CI 2.24–2.50) mortality. Both hospital and one year mortality correlated with the increased severity of ABF. The factors most strongly associated with ABF were pre-admission dementia (OR 7.86; 95% CI 6.15–10.19) and invasive ventilation (OR 2.32; 95% CI 2.24–2.40) but older age, female sex, presence of liver disease, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, malignancy and COPD were also associated with increased risk of ABF. Conclusions ABF is a common complication of critical illness and is associated with increased short and long term mortality. The risk of ABF was particularly high in older patients with baseline dementia, COPD, diabetes, liver and renal disease and those treated with invasive mechanical ventilation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)42-47
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Critical Care
Volume43
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2018

Keywords

  • Acute brain failure
  • Coma
  • Delirium
  • Electronic digital signature
  • ICU
  • Risk factors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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