title: Outcome of adverse events and medical errors in the intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Adverse events and medical errors (AEs/MEs) are more likely to occur in the intensive care unit (ICU). Information about the incidence and outcomes of such events is conflicting. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the effects of MEs/AEs on mortality and hospital and ICU lengths of stay among ICU patients. Potentially eligible studies were identified from 4 major databases. Of 902 studies screened, 12 met the inclusion criteria, 10 of which are included in the quantitative analysis. Patients with 1 or more MEs/AEs (vs no MEs/AEs) had a nonsignificant increase in mortality (odds ratio = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98-2.14) but significantly longer hospital and ICU stays; the mean difference (95% CI) was 8.9 (3.3-14.7) days for hospital stay and 6.8 (0.2-13.4) days for ICU. The ICU environment is associated with a substantial incidence of MEs/AEs, and patients with MEs/AEs have worse outcomes than those with no MEs/AEs.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN ahmed.adil@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Adil H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Jyothsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giri
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Balwinder
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kilickaya
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: M Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Murad
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Pickering
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061214:Patient Safety; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: adverse events; intensive care unit; medical error; outcomes; systematic review