Rationing critical care beds: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Rationing critical care beds occurs daily in the hospital setting. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the impact of rationing intensive care unit beds on the process and outcomes of care.


METHODS
We searched MEDLINE (1966-2003), CINAHL (1982-2003), Ovid Healthstar (1975-2003), EMBASE (1980-2003), Scisearch (1980-2003), the Cochrane Library, PUBMED related articles, personal files, abstract proceedings, and reference lists.


METHODS
We included studies of seriously ill patients considered for admission to an intensive care unit bed during periods of reduced availability. We had no restriction on study design. Studies were excluded if rationing was performed using a scoring system or protocol and if cost-effectiveness was the only outcome.


METHODS
In duplicate and independently, we performed data abstraction and quality assessment.


RESULTS
We included ten observational studies. Hospital mortality rate was increased in patients refused intensive care unit admission vs. those admitted (odds ratio, 3.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-6.17). Factors associated with both intensive care unit bed refusal and increased mortality rate were increased age, severity of illness, and medical diagnosis. When intensive care unit beds were reduced, admitted patients were sicker, were less often admitted primarily for monitoring, and had a shorter intensive care unit length of stay, without other observed adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
These studies suggest that patients who are perceived not to benefit from critical care are more often refused intensive care unit admission; refusal is associated with an increased risk of hospital death. During times of decreased critical bed availability, several factors, including age, illness severity, and medical diagnosis, are used to triage patients, although their relative importance is uncertain. Critical care bed rationing requires further investigation.
Sinuff
Tasnim
T
Kahnamoui
Kamayar
K
Cook
Deborah J
DJ
Luce
John M
JM
Levy
Mitchell M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014218:Triage