Adult Admissions to a Canadian PICU during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In response to the burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and overwhelmed intensive care unit (ICU) resources, some pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) have had to adapt. The purpose of this study was to assess the criticality, scope of diagnosis, and outcomes of an adult cohort admitted to a Canadian PICU. A retrospective chart review was completed on all patients between 17 and 50 years of age admitted to the PICU between June 2020 and December 2021. Admission data included body mass index (BMI), admission sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA), COVID-19 status, diagnosis, and comorbidities. The duration of ventilatory support, PICU and hospital admission, and mortality and discharge disposition were assessed. Discrete variables were reported as percentages and continuous data as means with standard deviations or medians with interquartile range. Sixty-five adult patients were admitted to the PICU for a total of 437 days, with a mean SOFA score of 6.6 and the overall mortality rate of 4.6%. Six patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia, were admitted with a mean SOFA score of 11.8 and a BMI of 38.3 kg/m2, and all were discharged to the ward. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric intensivists in a Canadian PICU managed adult patients up to 50 years of age with high criticality and broad-ranging diagnoses with a low mortality rate. PICUs may be a safe critical care decompression option for adult ICUs during future endemics or pandemics.