Table 1

Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes

Before

(n = 20)

After

(n = 30)

P-value*

Age (years)

0.39

Mean ± SD

59.5 ± 17.3

64.4 ± 16.7

Gender

1.0

Female

9 (45.0%)

13 (43.3%)

Male

11 (55.0%)

17 (56.7%)

Admission category

0.86

Medical

16 (80.0%)

22 (73.3%)

Surgical: Elective

3 (15.0%)

7 (23.3%)

Surgical: Emergency

1 (5.0%)

1 (3.3%)

Admission diagnosis

0.07

Cardiovascular/vascular

7 (35.0%)

7 (23.3%)

Respiratory

3 (15.0%)

8 (26.7%)

Gastrointestinal

0

5 (16.7%)

Neurologic

1 (5.0%)

2 (6.7%)

Sepsis

5 (25.0%)

1 (3.3%)

Trauma

3 (15.0%)

1 (3.3%)

Metabolic

0

2 (6.7%)

Renal

0

2 (6.7%)

Other

1 (5.0%)

2 (6.7%)

APACHE II score

0.73

Mean ± SD

20.7 ± 6.9

21.3 ± 7.3

Presence of ARDS

1.0

No

20 (100.0%)

29 (96.7%)

Yes

0

1 (3.3%)

Length of ICU stay (days) †

0.14

Median(IQR)

17.9 (11.2 to 47.8)

8.5 (4.9 to 12.7)

Length of hospital stay (days) †

0.02

Median (IQR)

57.4 (36.3 to Und.‡)

22.9 (18.0 to 46.6)

Length of mechanical ventilation (days) †

0.06

Median(IQR)

11.8 (7.6 to 43.3)

5.8 (3.6 to 8.6)

Patient died within 60 days of ICU admission

0.16

No

18 (90.0%)

21 (70.0%)

Yes

2 (10.0%)

9 (30.0%)

* Age and Apache II score were tested by the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, categorical variables were tested by Fisher's exact test, and length of stay variables were tested by the log-rank test.

† Based on 60-day survivors only. Time before ICU admission is not counted.

‡ Undefined because 44% (8/18) of surviving patients remained in hospital 60 days after ICU admission.

SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; ICU, intensive care unit.

Heyland et al. Critical Care 2010 14:R78   doi:10.1186/cc8991