Bedos et al identified risk factors for death within 3 months for HIV-infected patients with neurologic failure admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The authors are from Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital and Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris.
Outcome: death within 3 months of admission to the ICU
Parameters:
(1) Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)
(2) brain stem involvement
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
Glasgow Coma Score |
7 to 15 |
0 |
|
3 to 6 |
1 |
brain stem involvement |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1 |
total number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for the 2 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 2
• The risk of death is associated with the number of risk factors present. These reflect severe neurological involvement.
Limitations:
• The study was performed before HAART was available.
• Many of the patients were admitted with opportunistic infections (especially cerebral toxoplasmosis). Most of the patients were AIDS Stage IV (CDC).
Purpose: To identify an HIV-infected patient admitted to the ICU in neurological failure who is at risk for death within the next 3 months.
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage, complication detection, end-of-life, palliative care
ICD-10: B22,