Objective: The aim of this study was to describe in a gender specific perspective, demographic data from adult patients that have been treated in an intensive care unit.

Background: Many studies show that there are differences between men and women when it comes to different aspects of health care. The knowledge of these differences is limited when relating to intensive care in Sweden.

Method: Demographic data registered in the Swedish intensive care register including all intensive care cases during the year of 2009 (n=695) in an intensive care unit in a hospital in southern Sweden was analyzed. A group comparison between the sexes was made with the following variables: number of patients admitted, length of stay in the ICU, SAPS 3 (Simplified Acute Physiology Score) points, the five most common diagnosis, mortality and mortality per diagnosis.

Results: The study showed an over-representation of men (62,2 %, p<0.001) in number of intensive care patients. The mortality was 9,9 % overall and significantly higher amongst men (11,8 %), compared with women (6,8 %, p=0.034). There were no differences between the sexes in length of stay, diagnosis, SAPS 3 points and mortality per diagnosis.

Conclusions: This study has shown that more men than women are treated in the intensive care unit and that more men die during their time in the intensive care unit.