Characteristics of Young Adults Admitted to Intensive Care Units at an Academic Health System.

Abstract

Background: Young adults in intensive care units (ICUs) are a subgroup of patients who have not been adequately studied. Their health and developmental issues differ from those of children and older adults, but little is known about their specific critical care needs.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of a cohort of young adults (18 to 39 years of age) receiving care in specialty ICUs, examine differences in this population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore associations among clinical and demographic variables and advance directives.

Methods: Analysis of a deidentified data set of 3401 young adults who were admitted to ICUs at one academic health system from 2018 through 2021.

Results: The mean age of the young adult group was 29.7 years (SD, 6.0 years). A disproportionately higher number were male and Black compared with the catchment area and older adult groups. Most of the young adults were single with commercial or government health insurance. One-third had diagnoses of injury, poisonings, and trauma; other common diagnoses were infections and endocrine, circulatory, and digestive disorders. The patients' mortality rate was 6.6%, and more than 70% were eventually discharged to home. One-third had an advance directive. Over the COVID-19 pandemic years, there was a trend toward more Black young adults in the ICU and increased severity of illness and mortality rate.

Conclusions: Most young adults survived their ICU admission and were eventually discharged to home, highlighting needs for research into posthospitalization support.