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