Loading video... VIDEO: Research from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine, published in JAMA Network Open, shows that people treated in the ICU for COVID-19... view more Credit: Regenstrief Institute The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems across the country, especially intensive care units. New research from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine shows that people treated in the ICU for COVID-19 are twice as likely to die when the ICU capacity is strained by the number of COVID-19 patients. "These results demonstrate that patients with COVID-19 are more likely to die if they are admitted to an ICU during times with peak COVID-19 caseload," said Dawn Bravata, M.D., first author of the study. "We know that strain on hospital capacity has been associated with increased mortality under normal circumstances. This study provides evidence that the same is true during the current pandemic." Dr. Bravata is a core investigator in the VA Health Services Research and Development Center for Health Information and Communication, a Regenstrief research scientist and an IU School of Medicine professor.