Readmission to the Intensive Care Unit - Epidemiology, Prediction and Clinical Consequences

Readmission to the ICU is considered a serious adverse event. The medical and economic impact of this complication is so significant, that a percentage of ICU readmissions is today considered an indicator of ICU quality. This review paper analyzes the available literature on epidemiology, prediction and the clinical effects of ICU readmissions. It turns out that there are no publications on this subject in the Polish literature. Data from other countries indicate, that a percentage of ICU readmissions depends on a variety of factors and is ranging from 2% to 15%. Hospitalization time after ICU readmission is longer and hospital mortality is higher. We do not have reliable tools for the prediction of this complication. In the Polish healthcare system, multidisciplinary ICUs are run by specialists in anaesthesiology and intensive therapy. Patients discharged from these departments constitute a high-risk population and are further referred to doctors representing various medical specialities. Few available data indicate that long-term outcomes of patients discharged from Polish ICU are very bad, especially in the elderly. The problem of maintaining proper continuity of treatment after discharge from a high level ofmedical supervision is therefore very important to ensure coordinated medical care.