Factors affecting length of stay in the intensive care unit

It is known that staying in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a long time increases the risk of complications and mortality, causes high costs, and creates a burden on the patient, their families, and society. Predicting the length of stay in the ICU is important in terms of patient follow-up, treatment, appropriate discharge time and more efficient use of resources. This study was conducted to determine the factors affecting the length of stay in the ICU. Evaluation parameters were selected according to International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). After obtaining the consent of the patients who are hospitalized in the ICU, over the age of 18, who are not intubated, whose hemodynamics are stable, and who do not have a disease that prevents the evaluations to be made, between the 24-72 hours of their hospitalization evaluations were made. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale value below 15, who died in the ICU, and were intubated were not included in the study. Pain status of the participants visüal analog scala (VAS), muscle strength 5-repetition sit-stand test, daily life activity Barthel Index, quality of life Nottingham Health Profile, mobilization status Intensive Care Mobilization Score, frailty Tillburg Vulnerability Scale, depression and anxiety status by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, cognitive Status was recorded with the Modified Mini Mental Test for the Uneducated, consciousness status was recorded with the Glasgow Coma Scale, and mortality status was recorded with the APACHEII score. In addition to these parameters, demographic information and length of stay in the ICU were also recorded. The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the correlation between length of stay in ICU and other variables. Gradual Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was performed to determine the determinants of ICU length of stay. A total of 47 patients, 46.8% of whom were men, were included in the study. A significant correlation was found between the length of stay in the ICU and age (p:0.023), mortality rate (p:0.037), mobilization level (p<0.001), activities of daily living (p<0.001), cognitive status (p<0.001), anxiety and depression status (p<0.001), and frailty (p:0.001). It was found that the length of stay in the ICU was determined by the patient's mobilization status, anxiety and depression status, and mortality rate 47%. As a result, the factors affecting the length of stay in the ICU were found to mortality level, mobilization status, anxiety and depression level. August 2022, 56 Pages. Key Words: Intensive care, intensive care units, length of stay