Table 1.
Characteristics of patients with ventilator-dependent respiratory failure transferred versus not transferred (n = 89,454)
| Variable | Transferred (n = 2,091) | Not Transferred (n = 87,363) |
|---|---|---|
| Age, yr, mean (SD) | 61.1 (16.4) | 65.3 (16.8) |
| Female sex, n (%) | 901 (43.1) | 39,736 (45.5) |
| Race/ethnicity, n (%) | ||
| White | 1,445 (69.6) | 58,743 (67.2) |
| Black | 326 (15.6) | 14,036 (16.0) |
| Hispanic | 239 (11.4) | 11,636 (13.3) |
| Other | 81 (3.8) | 2,948 (3.3) |
| Insurance, n (%) | ||
| Medicare | 1,225 (58.6) | 56,109 (64.2) |
| Medicaid | 393 (18.7) | 16,166 (18.5) |
| Commercial | 473 (22.6) | 15,088 (17.2) |
| Hospital length of stay, median (IQR) | 9 (4–18)* | 10 (5–18) |
| Early mechanical ventilation† | 1,498 (71.6%) | 62,965 (72.1%) |
| Shock, n (%) | 626 (29.9) | 28,959 (33.1) |
| Major surgery, n (%) | 667 (31.9) | 32,469 (37.2) |
| Dialysis, n (%) | 243 (11.6) | 9,148 (10.4) |
| Tracheostomy, n (%) | 405 (19.4) | 8,663 (9.9) |
| Charlson comorbidity index, mean (SD) | 2.10 (2.00) | 2.31 (2.30) |
Definition of abbreviation: IQR = interquartile range.
*
Initial hospital length of stay for transfers.
†
Within 2 days of admission.