Journal of Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine 2014 , Vol 5, Issue 1
General Characteristics and Costs of Terminal-Stage Patients in a Medical Intensive Care Unit
Gülbin Aygencel 1 , Melda Türkoğlu 1
1Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Yoğun Bakım Bilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye DOI : 10.5152/dcbybd.2014.683

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the general characteristics and costs of terminal-stage patients in a medical intensive care unit (ICU).

Material and Methods: Eighty-three patients, admitted to a medical ICU in a university hospital between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013, were included in the study. General characteristics, intensive care processes, outcomes, and costs of the patients were examined.

Results: Eight percent of patients admitted to the ICU during the study period were terminal-stage patients. The median age was 63 years, 52% of patients were male, and 77% of patients were terminal-stage cancer patients. Despite full support therapy, only 4.8% of the patients were discharged. The median cost was 2841 TL, and the total cost was 581,353.2 TL.

Conclusion: It is costly to treat terminal-stage patients in acute care centers, as in intensive care units. In our country, it is also necessary to develop a palliative care system for this group of patients. 

Keywords : Terminal-stage patient, intensive care unit, cost, outcome, palliative care