title: Risk factors for acute organ failure in intensive care unit patients who receive respiratory support in the absence of non-respiratory organ failure: an international prospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many supposed low-risk intensive care unit (ICU) admissions develop acute organ failure (AOF). Identifying patients at high risk of developing AOF and targeting them with preventative strategies may be effective. Our study question was: in a population of ICU patients receiving positive pressure respiratory support (invasive or non-invasive) in the absence of non-respiratory AOF, what is the 14-day incidence of, risk factors for and time to acute organ failure?
  
  
  METHODS
  In an international prospective cohort study, patients receiving positive pressure respiratory support (invasive or non-invasive) in the absence of non-respiratory AOF were enrolled and followed for 14 days. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of any AOF (defined as SOFA 3 to 4) during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 123 of 766 screened patients (16.1%) were enrolled. Data are reported for 121 patients. In total, 45 out of 121 patients (37.2%) developed AOF. Mortality rates were higher in those with AOF: 17.8% versus 4.0% OR 5.11, P = 0.019) for ICU mortality; and 28.9% versus 11.8% (OR 2.80, P = 0.019) for hospital mortality. Median ICU length of stay was also longer in those with AOF (11 versus 3.0 days; P < 0.0001). Hypoxemic respiratory failure (P = 0.001) and cardiovascular dysfunction (that is, SOFA 1 to 2; P = 0.03) were associated with AOF. The median time to first AOF was two days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients receiving positive (invasive or non-invasive) pressure respiratory support in the absence of non-respiratory AOF are commonly admitted to ICU; AOF is frequent in these patients. Organ failure developed within a short period after admission. Hypoxemic respiratory failure and cardiovascular dysfunction were strongly associated with AOF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Asthma, Allergy Lung Biology, School of Medicine, King's College London, St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RT, UK. marius.terblanche@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terblanche
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: di Gangi
authors.forename: Sadiq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gearay
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilfeather
authors.forename: Niall D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pearse
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000208:Acute Disease; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology