Six-month's experience (July 1978--December 1978) in a medical intensive care unit.

The Medical Intensive Care Unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital was established in October 1970. Additional beds were added to the Unit over the years and by June 1977 it had become a 10-beded Unit. A survey of admissions for a six month period from July 1978 to December 1978 was done to gain further insight into future needs. Six hundred and eleven patients were admitted during this period. Two thirds of the patients were over the age of 50. There were 451 (73.4%) with cardiovascular problem and 160 (26.6%) with other acute medical problems. Of the patients with cardiovascular problems, 232 had acute myocardial infarction. The duration of stay in the Unit was less than 3 days in 80% of the patients. The mortality rate was 15.7%.