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Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness

Year 2025, Volume: 78 Issue: 3, 177 - 186, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1728643

Abstract

Aim: To investigate ICU outcomes and early mortality predictors in fully active patients prior to critical illness, a population often considered resilient, yet underrepresented in outcome studies.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 139 patients admitted to the medical ICUs of a tertiary hospital between November 2022 and February 2025. Only patients with preserved pre-ICU performance status [Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)≤1 or Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)≤3] were included. Demographics, comorbidities, admission diagnoses, severity scores (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II [APACHE-II], Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA]), interventions, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors for ICU mortality.
Results: The ICU mortality rate was 16.5% in fully active critically ill patients. Non-survivors had significantly higher APACHE II and SOFA scores, abnormal laboratory findings, and a greater requirement for mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy. Cardiac arrest prior to admission and concominant septic shock were more frequently in non-survivors. ICU admission from inpatient wards (OR 5.69,p=0.023), cardiac arrest before ICU admission (OR 33.45,p=0.002), pulmonary disease as a comorbidity (OR 15.19,p=0.002), concomitant septic shock (OR 5.08,p=0.032), and acute kidney injury (AKI)(OR 10.02,p=0.032) were independent risk factors for ICU mortality, Moreover, SOFA and APACHE II scores showed strong discriminative ability for ICU mortality (AUCs:0.916 and 0.873).
Conclusion: Although fully active before critical illness, these patients are not immune to poor ICU outcomes. Our findings highlight that specific clinical presentations like septic shock, cardiac arrest, and AKI carry substantial prognostic value, even in patients considered low-risk by baseline performance.

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Gazi University Ethics Committee (Date: April 15, 2025, Number: 2025–627).

References

  • Zampieri FG, Bozza FA, Moralez GM, et al. The effects of performance status one week before hospital admission on the outcomes of critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med. 2017;43(1):39-47.
  • Oken MM, Creech RH, Tormey DC, et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982;5(6):649-55.
  • Van der Zee EN, Noordhuis LM, Epker JL, et al. Assessment of mortality and performance status in critically ill cancer patients: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2021;16(6):e0252771.
  • Gattani S, Ramaswamy A, Noronha V, et al. ECOG performance status as a representative of deficits in older Indian patients with cancer: A cross-sectional analysis from a large cohort study. Cancer Research, Statistics, and Treatment. 2022;5(2):256-262.
  • Pieralli F, Vannucchi V, De Marzi G, et al. Performance status and in-hospital mortality of elderly patients with community acquired pneumonia. Intern Emerg Med. 2018;13(4):501-507.
  • Díaz-Díaz D, Villanova Martínez M, Palencia Herrejón E. Oncological patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Analysis of predictors of in-hospital mortality. Med Intensiva (Engl Ed). 2018;42(6):346-353.
  • Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight C, et al. A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ. 2005;173(5):489-95.
  • Kara I, Yildirim F, Zerman A, et al. The impact of frailty on noninvasive mechanical ventilation in elderly medical intensive care unit patients. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2018;30(4):359-366.
  • Wozniak H, Beckmann TS, Dos Santos Rocha A, et al. Long-stay ICU patients with frailty: mortality and recovery outcomes at 6 months. Ann Intensive Care. 2024;14(1):31.
  • Fronczek J, Polok K, de Lange DW, et al. VIP1; VIP2 study group. Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study. Crit Care. 2021;25(1):231.
  • Krinsley JS, Wasser T, Kang G, et al. Pre-admission functional status impacts the performance of the APACHE IV model of mortality prediction in critically ill patients. Crit Care. 2017;21(1):110.
  • Ekerstad N, Javadzadeh D, Alexander KP, et al. Clinical Frailty Scale classes are independently associated with 6-month mortality for patients after acute myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2022;11(2):89-98.
  • Flaatten H, De Lange DW, Morandi A, et al. VIP1 study group. The impact of frailty on ICU and 30-day mortality and the level of care in very elderly patients (≥ 80 years). Intensive Care Med. 2017;43(12):1820-1828.
  • Bagshaw SM, Stelfox HT, McDermid RC, et al. Association between frailty and short- and long-term outcomes among critically ill patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study. CMAJ. 2014;186(2):E95-102.
  • Vincent JL, Marshall JC, Namendys-Silva SA, et al. Assessment of the worldwide burden of critical illness: the intensive care over nations (ICON) audit. Lancet Respir Med. 2014;2(5):380-6.
  • Demass TB, Guadie AG, Mengistu TB, et al. The magnitude of mortality and its predictors among adult patients admitted to the Intensive care unit in Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):12010.
  • Montull L, Fernández R, Montón C, et al. Oncological patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicenter study of mortality predictors. Med Intensiva. 2018;42(4):225–233.
  • Sanchez D, Brennan K, Al Sayfe M, et al. Frailty, delirium and hospital mortality of older adults admitted to intensive care: the Delirium (Deli) in ICU study. Crit Care. 2020;24(1):609.
  • Subramaniam A, Aalap C, Orford NR, et al. Hospital Frailty Risk Score and Clinical Frailty Scale as predictors of mortality and length of stay in older critically ill patients: a multicentre retrospective study. Crit Care. 2022;26(1):284.
  • Kolay F, Gülen D, Kahvecioğlu A, et al. Evaluation of mortality prediction models for oncology patients in intensive care unit. Signa Vitae. 2025;21(3):46-52.
  • Martos-Benítez FD, Soler-Morejón CD, Lara-Ponce KX, et al. Critically ill patients with cancer: A clinical perspective. World J Clin Oncol. 2020;11(10):809-835.
  • Kingah P, Alzubaidi N, Yafawi JZD, et al. Factors Associated with Mortality in Patients with a Solid Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit - A Prospective Observational Study. J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures). 2018;4(4):137-142.
  • Sanchez D, Brennan K, Al Sayfe M, et al. Frailty, delirium and hospital mortality of older adults admitted to intensive care: the Delirium (Deli) in ICU study. Crit Care 2020;24(1):609.
  • Knaus WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, et al. APACHE II: a severity of disease classification system. Crit Care Med. 1985;13(10):818–29.
  • McGrath BA, Wallace S, Buchanan K. Early versus late mechanical ventilation in ICU mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2022;26(1):207.
  • Chandel A, Leazer S, Alcover KC, et al. ICU mortality associated with organ-support in COVID-19: systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Explor. 2023;5(3):e0876.
  • Raith EP, Udy AA, Bailey M, et al. Prognostic accuracy of the SOFA score for in-hospital mortality among adults with suspected infection: JAMA. 2017;317(3):290–300.
  • Inci K, Aygencel G, Boyaci Dundar N, et al. Factors and outcomes related to new-onset acute kidney injury in septic medical intensive care unit patients. North Clin Istanb. 2024 ;11(5):414-421.
  • Zhang L, Xie X, Zhang Y, et al. Value of SOFA score, APACHE-II score, and WBC count for mortality risk assessment in septic patients: a ROC curve analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(15):eXXXX.
  • Ferreira FL, Bota DP, Bross A, et al. Serial evaluation of the SOFA score to predict outcome in critically ill patients. JAMA. 2001;286(14):1754–8.
  • Aujla S, Banstola S, Laha S, et al. A retrospective comparison study of delayed admissions into the critical care unit. J Intensive Care Soc. 2025 May 26:17511437251333268.
  • Subbe CP, Kruger M, Rutherford P, et al. Validation of a modified Early Warning Score in medical admissions. QJM. 2001;94(10):521-6.
  • Smith GB, Prytherch DR, Meredith P et al. The ability of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to discriminate patients at risk of early cardiac arrest, unanticipated intensive care unit admission, and death. Resuscitation. 2013;84(4):465-70.
  • Maharaj R, Raffaele I, Wendon J. Rapid response systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2015;19(1):254.

Kritik Hastalık Öncesi Performans Durumu Tam Aktif Bireylerin Yoğun Bakım Sonuçlarına Etki Eden Faktörlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Year 2025, Volume: 78 Issue: 3, 177 - 186, 30.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1728643

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma ile kritik hastalık öncesinde tam fonksiyonel durumda olan ve bu sebeple fiziki olarak dayanıklı kabul edebileceğimiz hastalarda yoğun bakım sonuçları ve erken mortalite belirteçlerini incelenmeyi amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Kasım 2022-Şubat 2025 tarihleri arasında üçüncü basamak bir hastanenin dahili yoğun bakım ünitelerine kabul edilen, kritik hastalık öncesi performans durumu Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG)≤1 veya Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS)≤3 olan 139 erişkin hasta retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Demografik özellikler, komorbiditeler, yatış tanıları, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE-II) ve S equential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) skorları, organ destek tedavileri ve laboratuvar verileri kaydedildi. Birincil sonlanım noktası yoğun bakım mortalitesi olup, bağımsız belirleyiciler lojistik regresyonla (LR) ile değerlendirildi.
Bulgular: Mortalite oranı %16,5 olarak hesaplanan kohortta ölen hastalarda APACHE-II ve SOFA skorları, mekanik ventilasyon ve renal replasman gereksinimleri daha yüksek saptandı. Ölen grupta, servislerden yatış, kabul öncesi kardiyak arrest ve sepsis varlığında şok daha fazla gözlemlendi. LR analizinde servislerden yatış (OR 5.69, p=0.023), kabul öncesi kardiyak arrest (OR 33.45, p=0.002), pulmoner hastalık varlığı (OR 15.19, p=0.002), septik şok varlığı (OR 5.08, p=0.032), ve ABH varlığı (OR 10.02, p=0.032) mortalitenin bağımsız belirleyicileri olarak bulundu. SOFA ve APACHE-II skorları mortaliteyi yüksek doğrulukla öngördü (AUC: 0,916 ve 0,873).
Sonuç: Kritik hastalık öncesinde tam fonksiyonel durumda olmalarına rağmen, bu hastalar kötü prognoz riski taşımaktadır. Bulgularımız, septik şok, kardiyak arrest ve akut böbrek hasarı gibi belirli klinik tabloların, başlangıçtaki iyi performans durumuna rağmen düşük riskli kabul edilen hastalarda bile anlamlı prognostik değere sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

References

  • Zampieri FG, Bozza FA, Moralez GM, et al. The effects of performance status one week before hospital admission on the outcomes of critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med. 2017;43(1):39-47.
  • Oken MM, Creech RH, Tormey DC, et al. Toxicity and response criteria of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Clin Oncol. 1982;5(6):649-55.
  • Van der Zee EN, Noordhuis LM, Epker JL, et al. Assessment of mortality and performance status in critically ill cancer patients: A retrospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2021;16(6):e0252771.
  • Gattani S, Ramaswamy A, Noronha V, et al. ECOG performance status as a representative of deficits in older Indian patients with cancer: A cross-sectional analysis from a large cohort study. Cancer Research, Statistics, and Treatment. 2022;5(2):256-262.
  • Pieralli F, Vannucchi V, De Marzi G, et al. Performance status and in-hospital mortality of elderly patients with community acquired pneumonia. Intern Emerg Med. 2018;13(4):501-507.
  • Díaz-Díaz D, Villanova Martínez M, Palencia Herrejón E. Oncological patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Analysis of predictors of in-hospital mortality. Med Intensiva (Engl Ed). 2018;42(6):346-353.
  • Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight C, et al. A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ. 2005;173(5):489-95.
  • Kara I, Yildirim F, Zerman A, et al. The impact of frailty on noninvasive mechanical ventilation in elderly medical intensive care unit patients. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2018;30(4):359-366.
  • Wozniak H, Beckmann TS, Dos Santos Rocha A, et al. Long-stay ICU patients with frailty: mortality and recovery outcomes at 6 months. Ann Intensive Care. 2024;14(1):31.
  • Fronczek J, Polok K, de Lange DW, et al. VIP1; VIP2 study group. Relationship between the Clinical Frailty Scale and short-term mortality in patients ≥ 80 years old acutely admitted to the ICU: a prospective cohort study. Crit Care. 2021;25(1):231.
  • Krinsley JS, Wasser T, Kang G, et al. Pre-admission functional status impacts the performance of the APACHE IV model of mortality prediction in critically ill patients. Crit Care. 2017;21(1):110.
  • Ekerstad N, Javadzadeh D, Alexander KP, et al. Clinical Frailty Scale classes are independently associated with 6-month mortality for patients after acute myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care. 2022;11(2):89-98.
  • Flaatten H, De Lange DW, Morandi A, et al. VIP1 study group. The impact of frailty on ICU and 30-day mortality and the level of care in very elderly patients (≥ 80 years). Intensive Care Med. 2017;43(12):1820-1828.
  • Bagshaw SM, Stelfox HT, McDermid RC, et al. Association between frailty and short- and long-term outcomes among critically ill patients: a multicentre prospective cohort study. CMAJ. 2014;186(2):E95-102.
  • Vincent JL, Marshall JC, Namendys-Silva SA, et al. Assessment of the worldwide burden of critical illness: the intensive care over nations (ICON) audit. Lancet Respir Med. 2014;2(5):380-6.
  • Demass TB, Guadie AG, Mengistu TB, et al. The magnitude of mortality and its predictors among adult patients admitted to the Intensive care unit in Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):12010.
  • Montull L, Fernández R, Montón C, et al. Oncological patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicenter study of mortality predictors. Med Intensiva. 2018;42(4):225–233.
  • Sanchez D, Brennan K, Al Sayfe M, et al. Frailty, delirium and hospital mortality of older adults admitted to intensive care: the Delirium (Deli) in ICU study. Crit Care. 2020;24(1):609.
  • Subramaniam A, Aalap C, Orford NR, et al. Hospital Frailty Risk Score and Clinical Frailty Scale as predictors of mortality and length of stay in older critically ill patients: a multicentre retrospective study. Crit Care. 2022;26(1):284.
  • Kolay F, Gülen D, Kahvecioğlu A, et al. Evaluation of mortality prediction models for oncology patients in intensive care unit. Signa Vitae. 2025;21(3):46-52.
  • Martos-Benítez FD, Soler-Morejón CD, Lara-Ponce KX, et al. Critically ill patients with cancer: A clinical perspective. World J Clin Oncol. 2020;11(10):809-835.
  • Kingah P, Alzubaidi N, Yafawi JZD, et al. Factors Associated with Mortality in Patients with a Solid Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit - A Prospective Observational Study. J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures). 2018;4(4):137-142.
  • Sanchez D, Brennan K, Al Sayfe M, et al. Frailty, delirium and hospital mortality of older adults admitted to intensive care: the Delirium (Deli) in ICU study. Crit Care 2020;24(1):609.
  • Knaus WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, et al. APACHE II: a severity of disease classification system. Crit Care Med. 1985;13(10):818–29.
  • McGrath BA, Wallace S, Buchanan K. Early versus late mechanical ventilation in ICU mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2022;26(1):207.
  • Chandel A, Leazer S, Alcover KC, et al. ICU mortality associated with organ-support in COVID-19: systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Explor. 2023;5(3):e0876.
  • Raith EP, Udy AA, Bailey M, et al. Prognostic accuracy of the SOFA score for in-hospital mortality among adults with suspected infection: JAMA. 2017;317(3):290–300.
  • Inci K, Aygencel G, Boyaci Dundar N, et al. Factors and outcomes related to new-onset acute kidney injury in septic medical intensive care unit patients. North Clin Istanb. 2024 ;11(5):414-421.
  • Zhang L, Xie X, Zhang Y, et al. Value of SOFA score, APACHE-II score, and WBC count for mortality risk assessment in septic patients: a ROC curve analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(15):eXXXX.
  • Ferreira FL, Bota DP, Bross A, et al. Serial evaluation of the SOFA score to predict outcome in critically ill patients. JAMA. 2001;286(14):1754–8.
  • Aujla S, Banstola S, Laha S, et al. A retrospective comparison study of delayed admissions into the critical care unit. J Intensive Care Soc. 2025 May 26:17511437251333268.
  • Subbe CP, Kruger M, Rutherford P, et al. Validation of a modified Early Warning Score in medical admissions. QJM. 2001;94(10):521-6.
  • Smith GB, Prytherch DR, Meredith P et al. The ability of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to discriminate patients at risk of early cardiac arrest, unanticipated intensive care unit admission, and death. Resuscitation. 2013;84(4):465-70.
  • Maharaj R, Raffaele I, Wendon J. Rapid response systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care. 2015;19(1):254.
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Intensive Care
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Nazlıhan Boyacı Dündar 0000-0003-4264-9249

Kamil İnci 0000-0002-3815-4342

Büşra Tüfekçi 0009-0004-6658-6056

Gulbin Aygencel 0000-0002-8856-5019

Melda Türkoğlu 0000-0003-4043-7082

Publication Date September 30, 2025
Submission Date June 27, 2025
Acceptance Date July 29, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 78 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Boyacı Dündar, N., İnci, K., Tüfekçi, B., … Aygencel, G. (2025). Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, 78(3), 177-186. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1728643
AMA Boyacı Dündar N, İnci K, Tüfekçi B, Aygencel G, Türkoğlu M. Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. September 2025;78(3):177-186. doi:10.65092/autfm.1728643
Chicago Boyacı Dündar, Nazlıhan, Kamil İnci, Büşra Tüfekçi, Gulbin Aygencel, and Melda Türkoğlu. “Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 78, no. 3 (September 2025): 177-86. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1728643.
EndNote Boyacı Dündar N, İnci K, Tüfekçi B, Aygencel G, Türkoğlu M (September 1, 2025) Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 78 3 177–186.
IEEE N. Boyacı Dündar, K. İnci, B. Tüfekçi, G. Aygencel, and M. Türkoğlu, “Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness”, Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 177–186, 2025, doi: 10.65092/autfm.1728643.
ISNAD Boyacı Dündar, Nazlıhan et al. “Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 78/3 (September2025), 177-186. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1728643.
JAMA Boyacı Dündar N, İnci K, Tüfekçi B, Aygencel G, Türkoğlu M. Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2025;78:177–186.
MLA Boyacı Dündar, Nazlıhan et al. “Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 78, no. 3, 2025, pp. 177-86, doi:10.65092/autfm.1728643.
Vancouver Boyacı Dündar N, İnci K, Tüfekçi B, Aygencel G, Türkoğlu M. Determinants of ICU Outcomes in Fully Active Patients Before Critical Illness. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2025;78(3):177-86.