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Table 1 Characteristics of study population

From: Unsuspected serotonin toxicity in the ICU

Variable

N = 61

Age in years [mean (SD)]

65 (16)

Male [n (%)]

43 (71 %)

ICU admission [n (%)]

51 (84 %)

MCU admission [n (%)]

10 (16 %)

Day of admission delirium was diagnosed [mean (SD)]

5 (4)

Admission category

 

 Cardiac arrest [n (%)]

8 (13 %)

 Neurology/neurosurgery [n (%)]

10 (16 %)

 Multi-trauma [n (%)]

3 (5 %)

Confirmed infection [n (%)]

16 (26 %)

Acute kidney failure [n (%)]

17 (28 %)

APACHE II score [mean (SD)]

22,6 (6,8)

APACHE IV score [mean (SD)]

39 (26,2)

SOFA score [mean (SD)]

6,7 (3,2)

Comorbidity

 

 Psychiatric disorder [n (%)]

4 (7 %)

 Dementia [n (%)]

2 (3 %)

Mechanical ventilated [n (%)a]

25 (41 %)

Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scaleb

 

 Agitation (RASS > 0) [n (%)]

36 (59 %)

 Lightly sedated (RASS ≤ 0 ≥ −2) [n (%)]

23 (38 %)

 Moderate–heavily sedated (RASS < −2) [n (%)]

2 (3 %)

Sedationb [n (%)]

40 (66 %)

 Midazolam [n (%)]

13 (21 %)

 Propofol [n (%)]

13 (21 %)

 Clonidine [n (%)]

18 (30 %)

 Benzodiazepines per os [n (%)]

27 (44 %)

Chronic alcohol (ab)use [n (%)]c

6 (10 %)

Acute alcohol intoxication [n (%)]

3 (5 %)

Chronic benzodiazepine use [n (%)]

8 (13 %)

Recreational drug intoxication [n (%)]d

2 (3 %)

Morphine-like analgesics [n (%)]

20 (33 %)

Serotonergic medication [n (%)]

44 (72 %)

  1. ICU intensive care unit, MCU medium care unit, APACHE Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, SOFA Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, CAM-ICU Confusion Assessment Measurement for the ICU, SD standard deviation, RASS Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale >0 = agitated
  2. aAt point of physical examination
  3. bAt enrollment
  4. cMore than three units/day for more than 3 months
  5. dAmphetamines