Clinical and evolutionary differences according to sex in intensive care

Authors

Keywords:

intensive care unit, mortality, sex

Abstract

Introduction: Patients admitted to the intensivecare unit have different clinical and evolutionary charecteristics between the sexes that may influence the prognosis.

Objective: To determine the clinical and evolutionary differences according to sex in the intensive care unit.

Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study in the intensive care unit with a sample of 5664 patients. The following were studied: age, sex, type of admission, APACHE II score at admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, status upon of dischsrge and direct cause of death. Statistical methods: absolute and relative frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and the chi-square test and Student's t test.

Results: The male gender predominated (56.7%) and their average age was lower (57.7 vs. 61.9 years). The female sex had a higher proportion of deaths (50.6 vs. 47.9%). There was a higher percentage of clinical admissions in women (69.9 vs. 58.8%) and of traumatic admissions in men (18.0 vs. 5.5%). The average APACHE II score was lower in men (15.4 vs. 16.3). Both sexes received a similar proportion of invasive mechanical ventilation. There were no differences in the direct causes of death.

Conclusions: Differences associated with the sex of the patients are evident, marked by men having a higher rate of live discharge, lower mean age and lower APACHE II scores, while women have a higher incidence of deaths.

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Author Biographies

Alberto García Gómez, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Especialista de primer grado Medicina Interna, de segundo grado Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias, máster e  investigador auxiliar, profesor auxiliar.

Jorge Javier Cedeño Cabrera, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Especialista de primer grado en Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias

Pedro Julio García Álvarez, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Dr. en Ciencias. Especialista de segundo grado en Anestesia y Reanimación y Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias. Investigador auxiliar. Profesor titular.

Moraima León Robles, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Especialista de primer grado en Medicina Interna, de segundo grado Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias, máster, profesor asistente

Alexis Hernández Torres, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Especialista de primer grado en Medicina General Integral y segundo grado en Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias, máster, profesor auxiliar

Wendolín Rodríguez Borges, Hospital Militar Central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay"

Especialista de primer grado en Medicina Intensiva y Emergencias y en Anatomía Patológica, máster, profesora asistente

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Published

2025-08-22

How to Cite

1.
García Gómez A, Cedeño Cabrera JJ, García Álvarez PJ, León Robles M, Hernández Torres A, Rodríguez Borges W. Clinical and evolutionary differences according to sex in intensive care. Rev Cubana Med Milit [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 22 [cited 2025 Aug. 26];54(3):e025076240. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/76240

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 3 (2025): July - September (In Progress)

Section

Clinical Practice Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Alberto García Gómez, Jorge Javier Cedeño Cabrera, Pedro Julio García Álvarez, Moraima León Robles, Alexis Hernández Torres, Wendolín Rodríguez Borges

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