Key result
Hematological malignancies linked to ~5.6-fold higher ICU mortality than solid tumors in critically ill cancer patients.
Why the study?
In India, where cancer incidence is rising and healthcare infrastructure is strained, the outcomes of cancer patients requiring ICU care remain poorly understood.
Observational (n=204)
No
In a tertiary Indian ICU setting, non-elective admissions for cancer patients had an in-ICU mortality rate of 52.9%, highly predicted by hematological malignancy type and the need for organ support (mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, hemodialysis).
High mortality in non-elective cancer ICU admissions warrants cautious prognostication and goals-of-care discussions; leaves open optimal management strategies for hematological malignancies.
Background and aims: In India, where cancer incidence is rising, and healthcare infrastructure in tertiary care centers is strained, the outcomes of cancer patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) care remain poorly understood. We aim to describe demographic, clinical, and survival data and to identify factors associated with mortality in non-elective medical admissions of critically ill cancer patients to ICU in a tertiary care hospital. Patients and methods: Retrospective observational study of non-elective medical admissions of critically ill adult cancer patients to the ICU with a diagnosis of solid organ or hematological malignancies between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2022. Data regarding patient and neoplasm characteristics, ICU admission features, and outcomes were collected from medical records and ICU charts. Results: = 0.016), were independent risk factors associated with higher ICU mortality. Conclusion: An increasing number of cancer patients require intensive care, and our study suggests that many of these patients have a reasonable chance of surviving their ICU stay. The in-ICU mortality of 52.94% was observed at our tertiary care center in India. Independent predictors of mortality included age, type of malignancy, treatment intent, need for early IMV, vasopressors, and dialysis in the ICU. How to cite this article: . Outcomes of Cancer Patients Requiring Non-elective Medical Admission to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Center in India: A 5-year Retrospective Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2026;30(1):13-18.
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Sandill et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Critically ill cancer patients (n=204). Hematological malignancies vs. Solid organ malignancies was evaluated on ICU mortality (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.4-22.4, p=0.015). Among critically ill cancer patients requiring non-elective ICU admission, overall mortality was 52.94%, with hematological malignancies associated with a significantly higher risk of death than solid tumors (OR 5.6).
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