New research in The Lancet highlights the opportunity for saving lives at low-cost in African hospitals. The African Critical Illness Outcomes Study (ACIOS) provides the first comprehensive, continent-wide study into the prevalence and mortality of critical illness in Africa. The researchers found that critical illness is far more common than has previously been thought and that most critically ill patients are cared for in general wards rather than ICUs. Strikingly, the study reveals a substantial gap in the provision of low-cost emergency and critical care such as oxygen and fluids. There is a large potential for improved survival if this feasible care was implemented
Key Findings
- High Prevalence of Critical Illness: 12.5% (1 in 8) of adult inpatients in hospitals are critically ill.
- High Mortality of Critically Ill Patients: 21% of critically ill die in hospital within seven days compared to 2.7% of non-critically ill patients.
- Most Care is on General Wards: 69% of the critically ill are being treated in general wards (not in specialized units)
- Lack of Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC): More than half of critically ill patients (56%) do not receive the low-cost and simple EECC they require, such as oxygen for respiratory failure and fluids for circulatory failure.
“Our findings should change the way we think about critical care. There is a much larger burden of critical illness than we previously thought. Simple, low-cost essential emergency and critical care is not being provided. Many deaths are preventable.”
Dr Tim Baker, First Author, ACIOS
To read the full paper, visit; https://www.eeccglobal.org/african-critical-illness-study
Further information:
Please contact: Tim Baker, First Author, ACIOS
Email: [email protected]