ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Decreasing admissions in older and increasing mortality in younger patients: a nationwide observational study of all German intensive care unit (ICU) cases 2011–2022
Authors' conclusion
ICU utilization and outcomes in Germany have shifted markedly over the past decade.
Study context
- Population
- All German inpatient cases with ICU treatment ≥ 24 h, 2011–2022
- Participants
- 8.4 million ICU admissions
- Exposure
- Temporal trends 2011–2022 stratified by age group
- Outcome
- ICU admissions, 2011–2022 trend
Methodological detailsnationwide, observational
- Nationwide
- Observational
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ICU admissions overall decline
12.6%
ICU admissions, aged 65-79 years
- 18.1%
ICU admissions, aged ≥ 80 years
- 24%
ICU-related mortality overall increased (from–to)
14.4% to 18.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
In-hospital deaths
- In-hospital deaths declined across all age groups; proportion of ICU-related deaths rose among patients < 80 years
Organ replacement therapy (organ replacement therapies (ORT)) use
- Mortality with combined ORTs (up to)
- 79%
- ORT use increased across all age groups, with persistently high mortality
- Patients aged 65-79 years received combined ORTs most frequently
- Patients ≥ 80 years had the highest mortality
Original publication
Decreasing admissions in older and increasing mortality in younger patients: a nationwide observational study of all German ICU cases 2011–2022. Crit Care. Published 6 March 2026. doi:10.
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