Predictors of adult ICU mortality: a retrospective study at two government hospitals in Ethiopia

Abstract

The number of life-threatening conditions requiring admission to intensive care units has increased substantially in low-income countries, partly due to the expansion of hospital services. In Ethiopia, ICU mortality rates vary across regions. However, evidence regarding the magnitude of ICU mortality and its associated predictors remains limited and inconclusive. To assess the magnitude of the mortality rate and its predictors among hospitalized adult patients A two-center retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients admitted to the ICU between December 1, 2023, and May 30, 2024. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The completed data were gathered via a web link developed using Kobo Toolbox (kobtoolbox.org), then coded, manually verified for completeness, and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the data. A total of 309 patient charts were reviewed. The median ICU stay was 5 days. The leading causes of ICU admission were postoperative conditions, septic shock, stroke, and congestive heart failure. The most common causes of death were septic shock, stroke, head trauma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The overall mortality rate among ICU-admitted patients was 46.3%. A higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, the need for mechanical ventilation at admission, and the presence of hospital-acquired infections were significantly associated with ICU mortality. Compared with some developed countries, the observed mortality rate in this cohort was higher. The findings of the present study indicate that hospital-acquired infections, the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and the need for mechanical ventilation were all significantly associated with mortality among intensive care unit patients.