Impact of Viral Infections on Critically Ill Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Miggins Makesha, Hasan Anjum, Hohmann Samuel, Southwick Frederick, Casella George, Schain Denise, Liu Huazhi, Bihorac Azra, Moldawer Lyle, Efron Philip, Ang Darwin
Primary Institution: University of Florida
Hypothesis
Acquired viral infections during hospitalization may carry their own risk for adverse outcomes among patients in the intensive care unit.
Conclusion
Viral infections diagnosed during hospitalization significantly increase the risk of complications and mortality in critically ill patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Viral infections significantly increased the risk of all complications in ICU patients.
- Patients with both viral and bacterial infections had the highest risk of mortality.
- Specific viruses like influenza and RSV were associated with poor outcomes.
- Viral infections may serve as biological markers for adverse complications.
Takeaway
When people are very sick in the hospital, getting a virus can make them even sicker and increase the chance of dying.
Methodology
This was a population-based retrospective cohort study using the University HealthSystem Consortium database, analyzing outcomes of ICU patients without documented infections on admission.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the classification of patients as immunocompetent and the lack of clinical data.
Limitations
The study cannot infer causality and relies on administrative data, which may lack clinical details.
Participant Demographics
The study included critically ill patients aged 18 and older, with a diverse demographic in terms of gender and race.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI (5.47, 7.91)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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