Critical illness is a major issue in African hospitals, with one in eight patients classified as critically ill. A recent study published in The Lancet revealed that one in five critically ill patients in Africa die within a week, highlighting the urgent need for access to life-saving treatments.
The study, conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and other universities in Africa and the UK, surveyed nearly 20,000 patients in 180 hospitals across 22 African countries. The findings showed that 12.5% of patients in African hospitals are critically ill, with a significantly higher mortality rate compared to non-critically ill patients.
Shockingly, 69% of critically ill patients are treated in general wards rather than intensive care units, and more than half do not receive basic critical care such as oxygen therapy or intravenous fluids. The lack of access to essential emergency and critical care interventions is a major contributing factor to the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Africa.
Lead author Tim Baker, an Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet, emphasized the importance of providing inexpensive but crucial health interventions to critically ill patients. Simple measures such as oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and airway management can make a significant difference in improving patient outcomes.
“If all patients had access to essential emergency and critical care, we could significantly reduce mortality. These interventions are inexpensive and can be provided in general wards,” said Carl Otto Schell, a researcher at Karolinska Institutet.
The study is the first large-scale mapping of critically ill patients in Africa, shedding light on the critical need for improved access to life-saving treatments. By addressing the gaps in emergency and critical care services, healthcare providers in Africa can save more lives and improve patient outcomes.
For more information, the study titled “The African Critical Illness Outcomes Study (ACIOS): A point prevalence study of critical illness in 22 nations in Africa” can be accessed in The Lancet. The DOI for the study is 10.1101/2024.03.14.2430427.
This important research underscores the need for increased investment in emergency and critical care services in African hospitals to ensure better outcomes for critically ill patients. By providing access to essential treatments, healthcare providers can save lives and improve the overall quality of care in African healthcare settings.
