Key result
From 2014 to 2023, French intensive cardiac care unit admissions showed shorter overall hospital stays (7.6 to 6.6 days) and an increase in non-surgical interventions (41.4% to 49.0%).
Why the study?
The landscape of intensive cardiac care units has transformed over recent decades, but data characterizing these changes over time are limited.
Observational (n=2,731,925)
Yes
Over the past decade in France, intensive cardiac care unit admissions have shifted towards younger patients with more heart failure and non-surgical interventions, while maintaining stable in-hospital mortality despite shorter hospital stays.
Stable mortality despite shorter ICCU stays and rising HF may support efficiency gains; leaves open causal drivers and generalizability beyond France.
• The landscape of ICCUs has transformed greatly over recent decades. • Changes reflect shifts in patient demographics, treatments and healthcare practices. • However, data characterizing these changes over time are limited. • We analysed ICCU use in France from 2014 to 2023, focusing on changing trends. • We found a shift towards younger patients and more non-surgical interventions. • HF prevalence increased slightly, but acute CAD remained stable. • ICCU length of stay was stable, but overall hospital stay reduced significantly. • Results align with efforts to optimize resource use and reduce healthcare costs. The landscape of intensive cardiac care units has transformed greatly over recent decades, reflecting shifts in patient demographics, treatment modalities and healthcare practices. However, data characterizing these changes over time are limited. To provide a detailed nationwide analysis of intensive cardiac care unit utilization in France. This observational study analysed all intensive cardiac care unit admissions in France from 2014 to 2023, using data from the French national hospital discharge database (PMSI). Patient characteristics, admission patterns, procedures and outcomes were compared across years, contextualizing long-term changes in cardiac care. The study included 2,731,925 intensive cardiac care unit stays from 2014 to 2023. Long-term trends from 2014 showed a shift towards younger patients, shorter overall hospital stays (from 7.6 to 6.6 days) and an increase in non-surgical interventions (from 41.4% to 49.0%). Heart failure prevalence increased slightly (from 27.9% to 31.9%), whereas acute coronary artery disease remained stable (39.4% in 2014 and 38.3% in 2023). The in-hospital death rate was consistent at around 4%. This comprehensive analysis highlights important long-term shifts in patient profiles and treatment approaches over the past decade. These findings provide crucial data for optimizing acute cardiac care delivery and resource allocation in the evolving landscape of intensive cardiac care.
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Guillermou et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Intensive cardiac care unit admissions (n=2,731,925). Intensive cardiac care unit admission was evaluated on Patient characteristics, admission patterns, procedures and outcomes. From 2014 to 2023, French intensive cardiac care unit admissions showed shorter overall hospital stays (7.6 to 6.6 days) and an increase in non-surgical interventions (41.4% to 49.0%).
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