Journal article
Geographic Variations of Intensive Care Unit Admissions with Substance-Related Diagnoses in the United States
Journal of intensive care medicine, Vol.41(6), pp.479-485
06/2026
DOI: 10.1177/08850666251372491
PMCID: PMC13020461
PMID: 40900029
Abstract
BackgroundSubstance use is an important contributor to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare utilization in the United States. While prior research has explored regional differences in substance use and related hospitalizations, the geographic variation in substance-related ICU admissions remains underexplored. We sought to compare the prevalence of ICU admissions involving substance use across geographic divisions and between urban and rural ICUs in the United States.MethodsUsing the national PINC AI Healthcare Database, we performed a retrospective observational study of adult ICU admissions between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 with a substance-related ICD-10 diagnosis. We calculated the proportion of all ICU admissions with diagnoses related to any substance, and separately for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants and compared these across U.S. Census divisions and between urban and rural ICUs.ResultsOut of 4,740,799 ICU admissions, 760,153 (16.0%) included at least one substance-related diagnosis. The highest burden of substance-related diagnoses was observed in the New England, Pacific, and Mountain divisions, where alcohol and opioid-related ICU admissions were most prevalent. Stimulant-related ICU admissions were disproportionately higher in the Pacific division. Urban ICUs generally reported a higher proportion of substance-related admissions compared to rural ICUs, with certain regional exceptions.ConclusionThere are substantial geographic and urban-rural differences in substance-related ICU admissions across the United States. Our findings suggest a need for region-specific strategies to address distinct substance use patterns and reduce the burden on critical care resources.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Geographic Variations of Intensive Care Unit Admissions with Substance-Related Diagnoses in the United States
- Creators
- Kelsey Hills-Dunlap - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusMax McGrath - Colorado School of Public HealthRyan Peterson - Colorado School of Public HealthAriyani Challapalli - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusP Michael Ho - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusTyree H Kiser - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusR William Vandivier - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusSarah E Jolley - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusMarc Moss - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusEllen L Burnham - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of intensive care medicine, Vol.41(6), pp.479-485
- DOI
- 10.1177/08850666251372491
- PMID
- 40900029
- PMCID
- PMC13020461
- NLM abbreviation
- J Intensive Care Med
- ISSN
- 1525-1489
- eISSN
- 1525-1489
- Publisher
- SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
- Grant note
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: T32 HL007085-48 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: F32 AA030915, 3R24AA019661 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Colorado CTSA: UM1 TR004399
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute [grant number T32 HL007085-48]; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [grant numbers F32 AA030915, 3R24AA019661]; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Colorado CTSA [grant number UM1 TR004399].
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/03/2025
- Date published
- 06/2026
- Academic Unit
- Biostatistics; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984961120302771
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