|
Characteristics of an optimal descriptor of organ dysfunction |
| Specific for the function of the organ system of interest |
| Comprehensive measure of function in that system |
| Sensitive to clinically important change in function |
| Recognizable to clinician |
| Increasing abnormality associated with increasing risk of adverse outcome |
| Not readily reversed by resuscitation |
| Objective |
| Measure of physiologic derangement, rather than treatment decision |
| Reliably, readily, and reproducibly measured |
| Inexpensive |
| Abnormal in one direction only |
| Single, continuous variable |
|
Adapted from [4]. |
Khadaroo and Marshall Critical Care 2008 12:180 doi:10.1186/cc7001 |