The African Critical Illness Outcomes Study

In Africa, the prevalence of critical illness is likely to be higher due to a greater burden of disease, and the associated mortality higher due to limited resources. This is a prospective, observational study to rapidly establish the prevalence of critical illness in in-hospital adult patients in Africa, and the resources available to provide essential critical care (care that should be available to every patient in the world) and factors associated with mortality. Rapid dissemination of these findings may help mitigate mortality from critical illness in Africa. These points provide the rationale for the African Critical Illness Outcomes Study.