Singap Med J
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To ascertain the profile of medical intensive care unit (MICU) utilization in the Singapore General Hospital, a prospective survey studying 162 consecutive patients admitted to MICU was conducted over a four-month-period spanning September through December 1990. While there was no racial predilection, male admissions (n = 98) outnumbered female (n = 64) by a ratio of 3:2. Male admissions averaged 56.7 +/- 1.9 years (mean +/- SEM) vs 56.4 +/- 2.69 years in female (p = 0.98). ⋯ This contrasts with a mortality rate of 34.7% for non-septic patients. The issue of culture negative sepsis needs to be addressed. As it stands, septic patients stay longer than non-septic ones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)