title: Haloperidol use is associated with lower hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether haloperidol use is associated with lower mortality in mechanically ventilated patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A large tertiary care academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 989 patients mechanically ventilated for >48 hrs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared differences in hospital mortality between patients who received haloperidol within 2 days of initiation of mechanical ventilation and those who never received haloperidol. Despite similar baseline characteristics, patients treated with haloperidol had significantly lower hospital mortality compared with those who never received haloperidol (20.5% vs. 36.1%; p = .004). The lower associated mortality persisted after adjusting for age, comorbidity, severity of illness, degree of organ dysfunction, admitting diagnosis, and other potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Haloperidol was associated with significantly lower hospital mortality. These findings could have enormous implications for critically ill patients. Because of their observational nature and the potential risks associated with haloperidol use, they require confirmation in a randomized, controlled trial before being applied to routine patient care.
authors.affiliation: CRISMA Laboratory (Clinical Research, Investigation, and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness), Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Milbrandt
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Weissfeld
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clermont
authors.forename: Mitchell P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Derek C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Angus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D003422:Critical Care; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003693:Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D006220:Haloperidol