Aust Crit Care
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To explore the association between patient volume in intensive care units (ICUs) and risk-adjusted mortality. ⋯ Patient mortality may be improved in large capacity ICUs. However, the association is not consistent across all diagnostic groups. Risk adjusted mortality is increased in low volume ICUs. There appears to be a high volume threshold at which point the risk adjusted mortality benefit is also lost suggesting a window of optimal ICU organisational performance exists between low and high volumes. Further prospective research is recommended into clinical outcomes in high volume ICUs to explore association between organisational efficiency and quality of care.