THE IMPACT OF RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS ON ICU ADMISSIONS AND PATIENT OUTCOMES: A SYSTEMATIC NARRATIVE REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS

Dr. Abdul Latif Qureshi*, Dr. Mohammed Hussain Al Ezzudin and Dr. Fayrouz Musa Masood Mezerreg

ABSTRACT

Background: Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been implemented worldwide to identify and manage
hospitalized patients exhibiting early signs of clinical deterioration. This review evaluates the impact of RRTs on
unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and patient outcomes, focusing on data from Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (USA), and Europe. Methods: A systematic narrative
review with an integrated meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Literature from 2010 to
2023 was searched using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar with keywords such as "Rapid Response Teams,"
"ICU admissions," "patient outcomes," and country-specific terms. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies
reporting on RRT implementation and associated clinical outcomes like mortality rates and ICU length of stay.
Both English and non-English studies were considered to minimize language bias. Data extraction focused on study
design, methodologies, and outcomes. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was utilized for quality assessment. Metaanalysis
was performed to quantify the overall effect sizes of RRT implementation on ICU admissions and
mortality rates. Results: A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 5 non-English publications. The
meta-analysis revealed that RRT implementation was associated with a significant reduction in unplanned ICU
admissions (pooled reduction: 16%, 95% CI: 12%-20%) and mortality rates (pooled reduction: 12%, 95% CI: 9%-
15%). Enhanced response times and increased staff confidence were consistently reported. Cost-effectiveness
analyses indicated ICU cost reductions between 9% and 12%. Variability in RRT implementation, healthcare
system contexts, and study designs contributed to heterogeneity (I² = 65% for ICU admissions; I² = 60% for
mortality rates). Long-term outcomes data were limited, with only 5 studies addressing follow-up beyond hospital
discharge. Conclusions: RRTs play a crucial role in reducing unplanned ICU admissions and improving patient
outcomes across various healthcare settings. Despite variability in implementation and significant heterogeneity,
the meta-analysis supports their effectiveness. Standardizing RRT protocols, expanding research on long-term
outcomes, and addressing language biases are recommended to maximize their impact.

Keywords: Rapid Response Teams; Intensive Care Units; Patient Outcomes.