In-Hospital Mortality Risk Among Transfers to Cardiac Intensive Care Units

JACC AdvPublished 20 Aug 2025Prospective registry study

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Authors' conclusion

Transfers account for more than 1 of 3 admissions to tertiary CICUs, require more complex care, and have higher mortality compared to nontransfers.

Study context

Population: Consecutive admissions to predominantly North American tertiary cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) (Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network), 2017–2023
Participants: 21,215 admissions

Methodological detailsmulticentre, consecutive admissions, annual 2-month snapshots

As reported in the abstract

Adjusted odds ratio

1.15

CI 1.04–1.27

P < 0.001 for unadjusted comparison

By group

Transfers15%

Nontransfers11%

Transfers vs Nontransfers

adjusted OR 1.15 (CI 1.04–1.27); P < 0.001 for unadjusted comparison

Observational data: associations, not effects.

ACS as primary reason for admission

P < 0.001

Transfers36%

Nontransfers15%

Share of CICU admissions and patient-CICU-days accounted for by transfers

Shock

Mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, invasive monitoring

Transfers more likely to receive mechanical ventilation (26% vs 17%): P < 0.001
Transfers more likely to receive renal replacement therapy (8% vs 5%): P < 0.001
Transfers more likely to receive invasive monitoring (42% vs 34%): P < 0.001

Mechanical circulatory support in patients with shock

Transfers with shock more frequently received mechanical circulatory support (15% vs 8%): P < 0.001

In-Hospital Mortality Risk Among Transfers to Cardiac Intensive Care Units. JACC Adv. Published 20 August 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102046

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it