Table 3

Univariate analysis: comparison of factors predicting intensive care mortality

Survived (n = 39)

Died (n = 13)

P value

Age (years)

Median (interquartile range)

70 (19)

74 (11)

0.49

Minimum–maximum

16–85

36–81

Male sex [n (%)]

14 (36)

6 (46)

0.39

Operative reason for admission [n (%)]

26 (67)

7 (54)

0.38

Admission Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score

Median (interquartile range)

4 (5)

8 (4)

0.004

Minimum–maximum

0–15

2–13

Organ failures within the first 24 hours

Cardiovascular failure [n (%)]

11 (28)

7 (54)

0.11

Renal failure [n (%)]

4 (10)

4 (31)

0.09

Respiratory failure [n (%)]

25 (64)

11 (85)

0.30

Admission with sepsis [n (%)]

12 (31)

7 (54)

0.19

Co-morbidities of patients prior to admission

Chronic lung disease [n (%)]

6 (15)

1 (8)

0.66

Ischaemic heart disease [n (%)]

6 (15)

5 (42)

0.11

Diabetes mellitus [n (%)]

5 (13)

2 (17)

0.99

Chronic renal failure [n (%)]

1 (3)

1 (8)

0.44

Chronic liver failure [n (%)]

0 (0)

1 (8)

0.25

Congestive cardiac failure [n (%)]

3 (8)

1 (8)

0.99

Hypertension [n (%)]

18 (46)

5 (42)

0.75

Plasma free DNA level (ng/ml)

Median (interquartile range)

71 (67)

321 (189)

<0.001

Minimum–maximum

8–1,622

40–8,849

Rhodes et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R60   doi:10.1186/cc4894