Time to recovery and its predictors among Acute Respiratory Distress Sydrome patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit in west Amhara region public comprehensive specialized hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023: A retrospective follow-up study

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.