Evaluation of thrombocytopenia in a general intensive care unit

Introduction

Thrombocytopenia is a common laboratory abnormality in intensive care units (ICU), and generally results from multi-factorial causes. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of thrombocytopenia and the correlation with length of ICU stay, mortality rate, admission severity scores APACHEII and SAPSII, and multiple organ dysfunction scores SOFA and LODS.

Method

We evaluated patients admitted in a general ICU from January to July 2000 and collected the referring data to APACHEII, SAPSII, SOFA and LODS correlated with platelet count at the admission day and daily during ICU stay. We also obtained the mortality rate and the incidence of bleeding. We considered thrombocytopenia platelet count <150000.

Results

The total of 326 patients were analyzed in 7 months. The group of thrombocytopenia patients (n = 94) had longer ICU stay, higher APACHEII, SAPSII, LODS and SOFA as well as higher mortality rate.

Conclusions

Thrombocytopenia constitutes 28.90% of the population admitted at ICU and its development is predictive element for longer ICU stay and mortality rate. It is associate with worse prognosis index and higher organic dysfunction in the first day.

Table