Evaluation of nursing workload and predictive factors of mortality in patients admitted to mechanical ventilation in an adult Intensive Care Unit

Objective: To calculate nursing workload and determine predictive factors for mortality in mechanically ventilated patients in an Adult Intensive Care Unit. Methods: This is a retrospective, documentary, descriptive, analytical, and cross-sectional cohort study. Data were extracted from patient records from January to June 2014 at the Adult ICU of the Clinical Hospital of Uberlândia, Federal University of Uberlândia. Results: A total of 194 patients were included, with the outcome of discharge or death in the ICU assessed with qualitative and quantitative admission, hospitalization, outcome, and NAS variables. Logistic regression models yielded risk and protective factors for ICU mortality. Conclusion: NAS-m, NAS-md, NAS-i, and NAS-ri were associated with higher mortality rates, but the workload estimated by NAS was not fully met in scale allocation. Predictive risk factors for mortality included patients with COPD, thyroid disorders, elevated blood urea levels, administration of noradrenaline, corticosteroids, and vasopressin, SAPS3 score, NAS-ad, and NAS-ri. Protective predictors for mortality included patients with tracheostomy and NAS-a.