LAUSR

To the Editor: Burrell and colleagues captured data from 77 hospitals containing 91% (n = 204) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) intensive care unit (ICU) cases during the first four months of the pandemic.1 Overall mortality (n = 30, 15%) for mechanically ventilated and nonventilated patients in this study was lower than other published data. In contrast, overseas reports have indicated mortality rates for patients with COVID19 admitted to ICUs of 40%, 44%, 60% and 70% in the United Kingdom, China, Italy and the United States, respectively.2 Evidence indicates that within developed countries, mortality rates associated with COVID19 vary according to physiological parameters but also markedly according to location.3 Low ICU bed occupancy and the distribution of cases across a large number of institutions1 has positively influenced Australian COVID19 mortality rates.