BACKGROUND: Patients under 30 years of age constitute a unique population in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to obtain information on young adults admitted to Polish ICUs and to identify independent predictors of favorable outcome in this population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 20 651 adult patients from the Silesian Registry of Intensive Care Units conducted in the Silesian Region of Poland since October 2010 were analyzed. Patients aged 18–29 years were identified and their data were compared to the remaining population. Preadmission and admission variables that independently influence the favorable outcome (defined as survival of ICU stay and discharge in a condition other than vegetative state or minimally conscious state) were identified.

RESULTS: Among 20 609 analyzed adult patients, 850 (4.1%) were under the age of 30 years. Young adults had a lower mean APACHE II and SAPS III score at admission and were more frequently admitted to the ICU due to trauma, poisonings, acute neurological disorders, and obstetric complications. ICU mortality was over 2 times lower (20.1% vs. 45.3%, p<0.001). Independent variables affecting favorable outcome in this population were: admission to ICU from the operating theatre and multiple trauma as a primary cause of admission.

CONCLUSIONS: The greater chance of favorable outcome in adults under the age of 30 years admitted to the ICU is due to their unique characteristics. Favorable outcome in young adults is most likely among patients admitted to the ICU following multiple trauma or admitted from the operating theatre.

Keywords: Intensive Care Units, Mortality, Risk Assessment, young adult, APACHE, Hospital Mortality, Hospitalization, Length of Stay, Patient Discharge, Poland, Registries, Simplified Acute Physiology Score