Factors Affecting Discharge to Home of Medical Patients Treated in an Intensive Care Unit

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting the discharge to home of medical patients treated in an intensive care unit, including elements of in-hospital rehabilitation and prehospital movement ability. The participants of this retrospective cohort study were medical patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) and who began rehabilitation in ICU. We assessed the participants in the ICU and analyzed data on patient background, hospitalization, and rehabilitation status. There were 155 ICU patients available for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model identified the four variables of age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.09), APACHE II score (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04-1.24), independence in home life before admission (OR 7.10, 95% CI 1.65-30.44), and standing within 5 days of admission (OR 6.58, 95% CI 2.60-16.61) as factors significantly related to discharge from hospital to home. Independence of home life before admission and early start of standing were identified as factors strongly related to discharge to home. The degree of independence in living before hospital admission and progress toward early mobilization are helpful when considering an ICU patient's discharge destination.