MORTALITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ADMITTED ADULT PATIENTS WITH MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN ETHIOPIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Introduction: The global demand for intensive care has risen, given its effectiveness in lowering mortality rates. Mechanical ventilation (MV) is integral to intensive care but introduces risks such as ventilator-associated complications. Ethiopia experiences a high intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rate. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively synthesize evidence on the mortality of adults undergoing MV in Ethiopia and identify associated factors. Methods: The study extensively searched databases and gray literature for research on MV outcomes, trends, and associated factors in adult ICUs. Adhering to the 2020 PRISMA checklist, a systematic review and meta-analysis sought to establish the mortality rate and key determinants among adult ICU patients on MV. The search incorporated keywords and MeSH terms, excluding studies with unsound methodologies or missing data. Data extraction, quality assessment, and analysis followed established protocols, including the JBI tool for methodological quality evaluation. STATA version 17.0 facilitated analysis, assessing heterogeneity, publication bias, and performing sensitivity and meta-regression analyses. Results: The pooled mortality rate among adult ICU patients undergoing MV was 48.61% (95% CI: 40.82, 56.40%). Significant mortality-contributing factors included medical diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale score, sepsis/septic shock, sedation use, multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Although some pooled odds ratios seemed insignificant, closer examination revealed significant associations in individual studies. Conclusion: The study underscores the urgent need for further research, improved ICU infrastructure, and healthcare personnel training in Ethiopia to enhance outcomes for mechanically ventilated patients. Identified factors offer valuable insights for targeted interventions, guiding tailored treatment strategies to reduce mortality. This study contributes to understanding mortality and associated factors in MV patients, informing initiatives to improve critical care outcomes in Ethiopia.