Life Support and Outcomes in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units

In this JAMA Author Interview, Dr. Christopher Seymour interviews Dr. Emily Moyn and Dr. Scott Halpern about their JAMA original investigation on the use of life support and outcomes in US ICUs from 2014-2023. The study leverages the Epic Cosmos database to analyze trends in in-hospital mortality, ICU length of stay, and the use of mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. Key findings include stable in-hospital mortality until the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in mortality for COVID-19 positive patients, and a tripling of vasopressor use over the decade. The discussion also highlights the increasing severity of illness among ICU patients and the potential impact of these trends on patient care and outcomes, suggesting future research should focus on understanding the drivers and safety implications of increased vasopressor use and practice pattern variations across different sites.