Background
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used for sedation in critically ill adults, but its association with mortality remains unclear. Prior trial data suggest that this association may differ by age.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of mechanically ventilated adults admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea between March 2022 and September 2023. Patients were grouped by DEX use during ICU stay. To reduce confounding, inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied using a propensity score model. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality; the secondary outcome was ICU length of stay among survivors. Outcomes were analyzed using weighted logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were stratified by age (<65 vs ≥65 years), and interaction terms were tested.
Results
Among 245 patients, 124 received DEX. In patients aged <65 years, DEX use was associated with lower 28-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12–0.54; p < 0.001). No significant association was observed in those aged ≥65 years (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.44–1.17; p = 0.182). An interaction between age group (<65 vs ≥65 years) and DEX use was significant (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.13–6.72; p = 0.028). Among survivors aged ≥65 years, DEX use was associated with longer ICU stay (+5.36 days; 95% CI, 1.04–9.68; p = 0.017).
Conclusions
In this observational cohort, DEX use was associated with lower 28-day mortality among younger critically ill adults but not among older patients. These findings require confirmation in larger multicenter studies.
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