What does the acronym APACHE stand for in critical care?

The acronym APACHE stands for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, which is an important scoring system used in critical care to assess the severity of disease and predict patient outcomes. The APACHE score incorporates various physiological measurements, as well as chronic health variables, to evaluate the patient's condition upon admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). This scoring system facilitates the comparison of outcomes across different patient populations and helps inform clinical decisions regarding patient management.

The correct choice encompasses key components of critical care assessment, highlighting both the acute physiological factors and chronic health considerations that influence a patient’s prognosis. This understanding is vital for healthcare professionals in managing critically ill patients and determining appropriate interventions.