Table 1

Characteristics of the study population

Characteristic
No postmortem examination (n = 587)
Postmortem examination (n = 49)
P

Age (years)
69 (55–75)
69 (62–74)
NS
APACHE II score
21 (17–24.5)
22 (19.5–27.5)
NS
Predicted mortality (%)
36 (25–53)
42 (29–60.5)
NS
Duration of ICU stay (days)
2.7 (1.2–7.2)
2 (1–10)
0.038
Surgical (%)
47
70
0.01

Shown is a comparison of patients who underwent and those who did not undergo postmortem examination. Values are expressed as median (interquartile range). APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; ICU, intensive care unit; NS, not significant.

Perkins et al. Critical Care 2003 7:R129   doi:10.1186/cc2359