Trends and Variations in Tracheal Intubation for Acute Respiration Failure in Critically Ill Patients in the United States
Authors' conclusion
In the National Inpatient Sample, tracheal intubation in critically ill patients with ARF has declined over time with no change in mortality. In the same period, mortality rates in nonintubated patients have fallen.
Study context
- Population
- Adult hospitalizations for Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF), US National Inpatient Sample, 2016–2019
- Exposure
- Tracheal intubation vs no intubation in ARF
- Outcome
- Temporal trends and hospital variation in tracheal intubation among patients with ARF
- Follow-up
- 2016-2019
Methodological detailsNational Inpatient Sample, multivariable logistic regression
- National Inpatient Sample
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Proportion undergoing tracheal intubation · 2016 vs 2019
- Intubated overall
- 21.3%
- Proportion intubated, 2016
- 23.8%
- Proportion intubated, 2019
- 19.8%
- Decline over time
- P < .0001
- Variability in intubation rates attributable to admitting hospital
- 10.5%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Proportion undergoing tracheal intubation, 2016 vs 2019
- Proportion intubated declined from 23.8% to 19.8% (P < .0001), while ARF cases increased
Mortality by intubation status · 2016 vs 2019
- Intubated mortality, 2016
- 30.6% [95% CI, 30.2-31.1]
- Intubated mortality, 2019
- 31.0% [95% CI, 30.5-31.4]
- Nonintubated mortality, 2016
- 8.1% [95% CI, 7.9-8.3]
- Nonintubated mortality, 2019
- 6.6% [95% CI, 6.5-6.8]
- Higher mortality in intubated than nonintubated (P < 001)
Hospital variation in intubation rates
- Variability in intubation rates attributable to admitting hospital
- 10.5%
- Sepsis the patient factor most strongly associated with intubation
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Trends and Variations in Tracheal Intubation for Acute Respiration Failure in Critically Ill Patients in the United States. Anesth Analg. Published 20 July 2026. doi:10.
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