Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the study population

Characteristic
Group 1 (antioxidant vitamin intake 66–100% of RDA; n = 10)
Group 2 (antioxidant vitamin intake <66% of RDA; n = 30)
P

Age (years; mean ± SD)
64 ± 14
53 ± 15
NS
Gender (male/female; n [%])
7 (18)/3 (7)
23 (58)/7 (17)
NS
Medical/surgical (n)
6/4
13/17
NS
Diagnosis (%)


NS
     Respiratory



          ARDS
3
8

          Pneumonia
1
3

     Cardiovascular



          Postsurgical
0
4

          IHD
2
7

     Abdominal/hepatic disease



          Peritonitis
3
6

          Pancreatitis
1
2

APACHE II score
13 ± 6.6
15 ± 4.1
NS
Admission SOFA score (mean ± SD)
6.6 ± 2.8
5.9 ± 2.5
NS
Bilirubin (mg/l)
1.6 ± 2.6
3.8 ± 2.5
NS
Uric acid (mg/l)
4.5 ± 2.6
3.7 ± 3.6
NS
Total proteins
5.0 ± 0.7
5.1 ± 0.740
NS

APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; NS, not significant; RDA, recommended dietary allowance; SD, standard deviation; SOFA, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.

Abilés et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R146   doi:10.1186/cc5068