Table 3 Characteristics of patients with or without a decision of care limitation

Male

13 (48)

14 (64)

0.38

Age (years)

53 [42–64]

58 [49–72]

0.15

Chronic alcohol abuse

20 (74)

9 (41)

0.04

Diabetes

14 (52)

15 (68)

0.38

SAPS II

53 [47–60]

57 [51–63]

0.17

mRS prior to ICU admission

1 [0–1]

1 [0–2]

0.40

Duration of hypoglycemia, min (n = 27)

90 [31–525]

720 [480–810]

0.07

Initial glycemia (g/L)

0.20 ± 0.13

0.22 ± 0.12

0.45

Glycemia on ICU admission (g/L)

1.42 ± 1.49

1.24 ± 1.18

0.86

GCS

 Initial

4 ± 1

4 ± 1

0.06

 After glycemia normalization

5 ± 2

5 ± 1

0.55

Seizures

7 (26)

1 (4)

0.04

Temperature (°C)

 Initial

36.5 ± 1.2

36.9 ± 1.5

0.49

 Highest during first 24 h

37.8 ± 1.2

38.1 ± 1.4

0.28

Initial arterial pH

7.36 ± 0.14

7.41 ± 0.09

0.39

Initial lactate level (mmol/L)

3.05 ± 3.04

1.81 ± 1.09

0.18

Time to final glycemia normalization (min)

390 [112–720]

180 [67–480]

0.42

Mechanical ventilation

24 (89)

22 (100)

0.24

Length of mechanical ventilation (days)

5.5 [2–8]

11 [7–16]

0.002

Normal EEG (n = 34)

1 (3.7)

0 (0)

0.41

Normal brain imaging (n = 45)

17 (63)

8 (36)

0.04

Acquired ICU complications

 Pneumonia

12 (44)

13 (59)

0.39

 Septic shock

5 (19)

3 (14)

0.72

ICU length of stay (days)

7 [4–13]

14 [9–24]

0.007