Abstract:
Background: The mortality of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patien ts in intensive care units (ICU) is still a health problem. ARDS patients need more
time to recovery in resource-constrained countries. Long time to recovery makes
high burden to the organization and community resources. Little is known about the
time to recovery and its predictors among ARDS patients.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess time to recovery and its predictors
among Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients admitted to Intensive
Care Unit in West Amhara region public comprehensive and specialized Hospitals,
Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.
Methods: An institution based multi-center retrospective follow-up study was condu cted from January1/2020 to December 31/2022 among adult ARDS patients who
were admitted to medical and surgical ICU. A computer generated simplel random
sampling technique was used to select samples and checklist was used for data
extraction. EpiData version 4.6 was used for data entery and STATA version 14.1 for
data analysis. Log-rank test, Kaplan Meier curve and Schoenfeld global test were
done.The hazard ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed and variables
having p-value <0.05 in the multi- variable Cox proportional hazards model were co nsidered as significant predictors of the outcome variable.
Results: A total of 491 patient records were included in the final analysis with 97.04
% response rate. The median recovery time was11days (IQR: 7-18 days) with the
overall recovery rate of 6.27 per 100 person-days. Absence of comorbidity (AHR: 1.5
84; 1.125-2.231), oxygen saturation ≥90 (AHR: 1.849; 1.168-2.926), Glasgow Coma
Scale 9-12 (AHR: 2.072; 1.336-3.211), Glasgow Coma Scale 13-15 (AHR: 1.591; 1.0
60- 2.387), respiratory rate 12- 20 (AHR: 1.542; 1.042 -2.283) and use of mechanical
ventilation (AHR: 1.734; 1.055-2.853) were statistically significant predictors of the
outcome variable.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The median recovery time of study participan ts were 11 days. Predictors such as absence of comorbidities, oxygen saturation
≥ 90, Glasgow coma scale 9-12 and13-15, respiratory rate12-20, and use of mecha nical ventilation were significantly associated with recovery. Therefore, strengthening
ICU care services and addressing these predictors recommended in this study area.
