Prognostic contributions of the underlying inflammatory disease and acute organ dysfunction in critically ill patients with systemic rheumatic diseases

BackgroundKnowledge about the clinical features, outcomes and predictors of short-term mortality in critically ill patients with systemic rheumatic disease (SRD) requires further characterization.MethodsSingle center retrospective observational cohort study of 149 critically ill patients with SRD followed in a French medical intensive care unit over a 20-year period. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of day-30 mortality.ResultsMost patients (63%) had systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic sclerosis. The critical illness usually developed late after the diagnosis of SRD (median time to ICU admission 82 months, IQR [9–175] in the 127 patients with a previous diagnosis of SRD). Two-thirds of patients were taking immunosuppressive drugs to treat their SRD. Reasons for ICU admission were infection (47%), SRD exacerbation (48%), and iatrogenic complications (11%); the most common organ failure was acute renal failure. Thirty-day mortality was 16%. Predictors of 30-day mortality were the LODS score on day 1 (OR 1.3 (1.06–1.48)), bacterial pneumonia (OR 3.8 (1.03–14.25)), need for vasoactive drugs (OR 7.1 (1.83–27.68)), SRD exacerbation (OR 4.3 (1.15–16.53)), and dermatomyositis (OR 9.2 (1.05–80.78)) as the underlying disease. Year of ICU admission was not significantly associated with 30-day survival.ConclusionPatients with SRD are mostly admitted in the ICU with infection or SRD exacerbation, and can be treated with immunosuppressive therapy and life-sustaining interventions with acceptable 30-day mortality. Death is associated with both the severity of the acute medical condition and the characteristics of the underlying SRD.