HETEROGENEITY IN INTENSIVE-CARE UNITS - FACT OR FICTION

Reports and guidelines concerning intensive care practice have been is sued recently. However, the introduction of such centrally issued reco mmendations may be difficult because of marked heterogeneity between i ntensive care units. This study examined the facilities (number of bed s, consultant sessions, nursing establishment), annual workload (numbe r and types of patients admitted) and outcome (intensive care unit mor tality) in the (old) Anglia Region. There were significant differences in the distribution of patients' ages, severities of illness, diagnos es, durations of admission and outcomes. Such heterogeneity may make m ulticentre trials more difficult to conduct and create problems when u niform measures designed to improve intensive care services are being planned.