Timing of discharge from the intensive care unit and subsequent mortality a prospective, multicenter study

Abstract

Rationale: Previous studies suggested an association between afterhours intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and increased hospital mortality. Their retrospective design and lack of correction for patient factors present at the time of discharge make this association problematic. Objectives: To determine factors independently associated with mortality after ICU discharge. Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, binational observational study involving 40 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. Participants were consecutive adult patients discharged alive from the ICU between September 2009 and February 2010. Measurements and Main Results: We studied 10,211 patients discharged alive from the ..