Abstract
The length of stay in an intensive care unit is used as a benchmark for measuring resource consumption and quality of care and predicts a higher risk of readmission. The study aimed to assess the outcome and factors associated with prolonged intensive care unit stays among those admitted to adult intensive care units of selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. A multicenter retrospective chart review was conducted involving 409 adult patients. Binary logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with a prolonged stay and chi-square tests were used to assess associations and differences in outcomes for prolonged stays. The study, involving 409 of 421 individuals, revealed a predominantly male (55.0%) and the median age of study participants was 38, with an interquartile range (27, 55). Approximately 16.9% experienced prolonged stays, resulting in a 43.5% mortality rate. After adjustments for confounders, there were significant associations with prolonged stays for sedative/hypnotics, readmission, and complications. The study revealed that for every six patients admitted to the intensive care unit, one patient stayed longer, with nearly half experiencing mortality, demanding increased attention. The study emphasized the critical need for improvement in addressing associations between sedative/hypnotics, readmissions, complications, and prolonged stays.