Critical care bed capacity in Asian countries and regions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study

Phua, Jason and Kulkarni, Atul P and Mizota, Toshiyuki and Reza Hashemian, Seyed Mohammad and Won, Yeon Lee and Permpikul, Chairrat and Chittawatanarat, Kaweesak and Nitikaroon, Phongsak and M. Arabi, Yaseen and Wen, Feng Fang and Konkayev, Aidos and Hashmi, Madiha and Palo, Jose Emmanuel and Faruq, Mohammad Omar and Shrestha, Babu Raja and KC, Bijay and Mat Nor, Mohd Basri and Sann, Kyi Kyi and Ling, Lowell and Haniffa, Rashan and Bahrani, Maher Al and Mendsaikhan, Naranpurev and Chan, Yiong Huak (2023) Critical care bed capacity in Asian countries and regions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study. The Lancets, 44. pp. 1-8. ISSN 0140-6736​ E-ISSN 1474-547X

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Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted the importance of critical care. The aim of the current study was to compare the number of adult critical care beds in relation to population size in Asian countries and regions before (2017) and during (2022) the pandemic. Methods This observational study collected data closest to 2022 on critical care beds (intensive care units and intermediate care units) in 12 middle-income and 7 high-income economies (using the 2022–2023 World Bank classification), through a mix of methods including government sources, national critical care societies, personal contacts, and data extrapolation. Data were compared with a prior study from 2017 of the same countries and regions. Findings The cumulative number of critical care beds per 100,000 population increased from 3.0 in 2017 to 9.4 in 2022 (p = 0.003). The median figure for middle-income economies increased from 2.6 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.7–7.8) to 6.6 (IQR 2.2–13.3), and that for high-income economies increased from 11.4 (IQR 7.3–22.8) to 13.9 (IQR 10.7–21.7). Only 3 countries did not see a rise in bed capacity. Where data were available in 2022, 10.9% of critical care beds were in single rooms (median 5.0% in middle-income and 20.3% in high-income economies), and 5.3% had negative pressure (median 0.7% in middle-income and 18.5% in high-income economies). Interpretation Critical care bed capacity in the studied Asian countries and regions increased close to three-fold from 2017 to 2022. Much of this increase was attributed to middle-income economies, but substantial heterogeneity exists.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Critical care; Bed capacity; Intensive care units; COVID-19; Mortality
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC82 Medical Emergencies, Critical Care, Intensive Care, First Aid
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Medicine Kulliyyah of Medicine > Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Basri Mat Nor
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2024 16:19
Last Modified:	16 May 2024 10:10
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/109611

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