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Intensive Care Medicine
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine 7/2009

01-07-2009 | Review

The impact of obesity on outcomes after critical illness: a meta-analysis

Authors: Charles W. Hogue Jr, Joshua D. Stearns, Elizabeth Colantuoni, Karen A. Robinson, Tracey Stierer, Nanhi Mitter, Peter J. Pronovost, Dale M. Needham

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 7/2009

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess whether obesity is associated with mortality or other adverse intensive care unit (ICU) and post-ICU outcomes.

Methods

A meta-analysis of studies from PubMed and EMBASE databases.

Results

Twenty-two studies (n = 88,051 patients) were included. Pooled analysis demonstrated no difference in ICU mortality, but lower hospital mortality for obese and morbidly obese subjects (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.59, 0.92; RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.66, 1.04, respectively) versus normal weight subjects. There was no association between obesity and duration of mechanical ventilation or ICU stay. Morbidly obese versus normal weight patients had longer hospitalizations. No study reported physical function, mental health, or quality of life outcomes after discharge.

Conclusions

Obesity is not associated with increased risk for ICU mortality, but may be associated with lower hospital mortality. There is a critical lack of research on how obesity may affect complications of critical illness and patient long-term outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of obesity on outcomes after critical illness: a meta-analysis
Authors
Charles W. Hogue Jr
Joshua D. Stearns
Elizabeth Colantuoni
Karen A. Robinson
Tracey Stierer
Nanhi Mitter
Peter J. Pronovost
Dale M. Needham
Publication date
01-07-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 7/2009
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-009-1424-5

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