Table 2

Comparison of comorbidities of the patients in studies by Rivers and colleagues [2] and Sprung and colleagues (CORTICUS) [23]

Rivers et al.

Sprung et al.

(n = 263)

(n = 499)

Chi-square test

Caucasian (%)

Not reported

93

Age (years)

65.7

63

Male/Female (%)

50.6/49.4

66.5/33.5

0.0000

Hypertension (%)

67.3

37.7^a

0.0000

Coronary artery disease (%)

25.0

16.9^a

0.0080

Congestive heart failure (%)

33.4

6.0^a

0.0000

Diabetes (%)

31.4

21.6^a

0.0030

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (%)

15.7

11.3^a

0.0900

Chronic renal failure (%)

21.7

8.7^a

0.0000

Liver disease (%)

23.3

8.1^a

0.0000

Neurologic disease (%)

33.0

11.7^a

0.0000

Cancer (%)

11.4

16.9^a

0.0580

Alcohol use (%)

38.6

Not reported

^an = 496. CORTICUS, Corticosteroid Therapy of Septic Shock.

Perel Critical Care 2008 12:223   doi:10.1186/cc6979