Perfil dos pacientes críticos internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva: indicadores para segurança do paciente

Abstract

Introduction: Characterizing patients in Intensive Care Units is essential to optimize resources and improve care. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical profile of patients in an adult general Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in northeastern Brazil. Methodology: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, and retrospective study conducted in the adult general Intensive Care Unit of a public hospital in northeastern Brazil, encompassing nursing records and notes from January to June 2023. Patients aged 18 years or older and with a stay of more than 24 hours were included. Results and discussion: A total of 453 patients were included, predominantly male (54.1%) and aged between 66 and 75 years (26.9%). The main comorbidity was systemic arterial hypertension (21.3%), with a predominance of cardiovascular diseases. Most patients were referred from the surgical center, and surgical wounds were the main cause of injuries (53.5%). The microbiological profile revealed a predominance of Gram-negative bacteria. A total of 74.2% of patients were discharged from the Intensive Care Unit, with an average length of stay of 5.9 days. Conclusion: The study revealed a profile of predominantly male and elderly patients with cardiovascular comorbidities. These results can guide health education actions and optimize care for critically ill patients.Keywords: patient safety; nursing; intensive care units.