The role of timely assessment of appropriate care in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in intensive care medicine
Authors' conclusion
An ethical approach consisting of a timely assessment of the appropriate level of care for each patient, with the goal of avoiding disproportionate care, appears to significantly reduce GHG emissions per stay.
Study context
- Population
- Patient stays in a French critical care department (Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU)), 2023
- Participants
- 828 patient stays
- Exposure
- Early limitation vs Remainder
- Early limitationn = 240
- Outcome
- GHG emissions per critical care stay (kg CO2eq)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, 2913 patient-days in ICU and 1225 in IMCU, Early limitation subgroup: 240 stays (29%)
- Single-centre
- 2913 patient-days in ICU and 1225 in IMCU
- Early limitation subgroup: 240 stays (29%)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GHG emissions per stay
P = 0.004
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per day of hospitalisation
- ICU, average per day (kg CO2 equivalent (CO2eq))
- 194
- IMCU, average per day (kg CO2eq)
- 160
- Primary sources: procurement (medications, medical devices, equipment) and transport (employees, patients)
Mortality
- Overall critical care mortality
- 17%
- ICU mortality
- 31%
- IMCU mortality
- 5%
Original publication
The role of timely assessment of appropriate care in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in intensive care medicine. Ann Intensive Care. Published 17 September 2026. doi:10.
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