Table 3

Outcomes of care

Serum sodium category

Measures

Acquire hyponatraemia

(n = 917)

Always normal

(n = 5068)

Acquire hypernatraemia

(n = 2157)

p value^‡

ICU length of stay, median (IQR), d^†

6 (3 to 12)

2 (1 to 4)

7 (4 to 13)

<0.001

Hospital length of stay, median (IQR), d^†

25 (14 to 50)

12 (7 to 24)

24 (14 to 51)

<0.001

ICU mortality, number (%)

164 (18)

456 (9)

488 (23)

<0.001

Hospital mortality, number (%)

255 (28)

799 (16)

723 (34)

<0.001

†ICU and hospital length of stay for patients who survive to hospital discharge.

‡p values calculated by multivariable linear and logistic regression for comparisons of patients who acquire hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia with patients who always have normal serum sodium levels.

ICU = intensive care unit, IQR = interquartile range.

Stelfox et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R162   doi:10.1186/cc7162