Intensive care admissions following rapid response team reviews in patients with COVID-19 in Australia

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiology of rapid response team (RRT) reviews that led to intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and to evaluate the frequency of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) among ICU patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Australia. Design: Multicentre, retrospective cohort study. Setting: 48 public and private ICUs in Australia. Participants: All adults (aged ≥ 16 years) with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to participating ICUs between 25 January and 31 October 2020, as part of SPRINT-SARI (Short PeRiod IncideNce sTudy of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) Australia, which were linked with ICUs contributing to the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database (ANZICS APD). Main outcome measures and results: Of the 413 critically ill patients with COVID-19 who were analysed, 48.2% (199/413) were admitted from the ward and 30.5% (126/413) were admitted to the ICU following an RRT review. Patients admitted following an RRT review had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores, fewer days from symptom onset to hospitalisation (median, 5.4 [interquartile range (IQR), 3.2-7.6] v 7.1 days [IQR, 4.1-9.8]; P < 0.001) and longer hospitalisations (median, 18 [IQR, 11-33] v 13 days [IQR, 7-24]; P < 0.001) compared with those not admitted via an RRT review. Admissions following RRT review comprised 60.3% (120/199) of all ward-based admissions. Overall, IHCA occurred in 1.9% (8/413) of ICU patients with COVID-19, and most IHCAs (6/8, 75%) occurred during ICU admission. There were no differences in IHCA rates or in ICU or hospital mortality rates based on whether a patient had a prior RRT review or not. Conclusions: This study found that RRT reviews were a common way for deteriorating ward patients with COVID-19 to be admitted to the ICU, and that IHCA was rare among ICU patients with COVID-19.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of the eligible study cohort from the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database between 25 January and 31 October 2020 ICU = intensive care unit; IHCA = in-hospital cardiac arrest; RRT = rapid response team. * This IHCA occurred in the emergency department setting, and the patient had an RRT review, which is likely related to the rapid response system set-up of that particular hospital.

Figure 2

Hours until intensive care unit (ICU) admission based on prior rapid response team (RRT) review