Respiratory failure & ventilation
COVID‐19 in Norwegian intensive care unit (ICUs) 2020–2023: Patient characteristics, management, and outcomes—A nationwide prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
In this nationwide study of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway, ICU mortality was significantly higher in later compared to earlier admission periods, largely explained by changes in case mix, such as older patients with more co-morbidities.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Norwegian ICUs, 10 March 2020–5 May 2023, Norwegian Intensive Care and Pandemic Registryconfirmed COVID-19
- Participants
- 2,655 adults
- Exposure
- Admission periods across successive stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Outcome
- Mortality (crude 90-day mortality rate)
- Follow-up
- 90 days
Methodological detailsnationwide, registry-based
- Nationwide
- Registry-based
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Crude 90-day mortality rate
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ICU length of stay (LOS)
- ICU LOS decreased substantially from a median of 14.1 days (IQR 6.8; 23.1) to 2.6 days (IQR 1.1; 5.0)
Patient characteristics by admission period
- Patients admitted from 2022 onwards significantly older (median age >70) with more predefined risk factors vs earlier periods (median age < 65 years)
Respiratory failure management
- Shift towards less frequent use of invasive mechanical ventilation
Factors associated with mortality
- Admission period, age, predefined risk factors and SAPS II significantly associated with mortality
Factors associated with prolonged ICU LOS
- Primarily associated with respiratory support mode, age and higher SAPS II
Original publication
COVID‐19 in Norwegian ICUs 2020–2023: Patient characteristics, management, and outcomes—A nationwide prospective observational study. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 20 March 2025. doi:10.
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