Thrombocytopenia and its effect on mortality and morbidity in the intensive care unit

Year 2021, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 31 - 35, 01.01.2021

Gulay Ilkhan , Hakan Celikhisar

https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.842587

Abstract

Background/Aim: Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological abnormality among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The development of thrombocytopenia in the ICU usually indicates severe organ system dysfunction rather than a primary hematological disorder. We aimed to determine the incidence, causes, and clinical results of thrombocytopenia in patients followed up in ICU.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 165 patients who were followed up in the ICU with thrombocyte counts below 150,000 /uL were included and causes of thrombocytopenia, along with its effects on mortality and intensive care stay were investigated.
Results: Thrombocytopenia was determined in 30.1% of the patients in the ICU. The cause of thrombocytopenia was sepsis in 33 (20.0%) of the patients and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in 20 (12.1%) patients. During the study period, 115 (69.7%) of 165 thrombocytopenic patients and 173 (45.1%) of 383 patients without thrombocytopenia died. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with thrombocytopenia. Mortality significantly increased when platelet count decreased, even with similar APACHE II scores.
Conclusion: The most common causes of thrombocytopenia in the ICU were sepsis and DIC. Thrombocytopenia is common in the ICU and increases mortality rates.

Keywords

APACHE II, Intensive care, mortality, sepsis, thrombocytopenia

Supporting Institution

none

Project Number

none

Thanks

none

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