Implications for COVID-19 triage from the ICNARC report of 2204 COVID-19 cases managed in UK adult intensive care units

On 4 April 2020, the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) reported data from 286 adult intensive care units (AICUs) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.1 Of 2204 patients admitted with COVID-19, 1524/2204 (69%) remained on AICU, 340 (15.4%) had been discharged and 340 (15.4%) had died.1 These survival rates emphasise the crucial importance of intensive/critical care support for patients most severely affected by COVID-19. The 2204 COVID-19 cases were compared with 4759 patients with non COVID-19 viral pneumonia admitted to the same AICUs in the previous 3 years.1 The striking difference was that prior to their respective illnesses, the COVID-19 cohort was significantly healthier, with much lower disease burdens in the preceding 6 months (figure 1). Figure 1 COVID-19 and non-COVID cases in the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) report of 4 April 2020.1 Percentage of total cases with the respective disease burden within the 6 months prior to critical care, as defined by ICNARC1: immunocompromise: chemotherapy, radiotherapy or daily high dose steroid treatment in previous 6 months, HIV/AIDS or congenital …