Table 1 Cohort characteristics

Female, n (%)

39 (43)

Age, mean (SD)

61.5 (14)

Body mass index (Kg/m²), median (25th–75th percentile)

28.6 (24.4–32)

SAPS II at ICU admission, median (25th–75th percentile)

42.5 (31–57)

No. of admissions to ICU within the last year, n (%)

4 (4.4)

Main diagnosis

Pneumonia, n (%)

32 (35)

Sepsis, n (%)

8 (9)

COPD/asthma exacerbation, n (%)

12 (13)

Cardiac failure, n (%)

12 (13)

Drug overdose/acute mental status change, n (%)

11 (12)

Intra-abdominal sepsis with surgery, n (%)

14 (15)

Trauma, n (%)

1 (4)

Co-morbidity

Chronic pulmonary disease, n (%)

23 (25)

Obesity, n (%)

27 (30)

Chronic cardiac insufficiency, n (%)

13 (14)

Cancer, n (%)

15 (17)

Chronic kidney disease, n (%)

14 (15)

Diabetes mellitus, n (%)

17 (19)

Between admission and awakening

Septic shock, n (%)

45 (50)

ARDS, n (%)

13 (14)

Renal failure, n (%)

30 (33)

Use of catecholamines, n (%)

58 (64)

Use of neuromuscular blockers, n (%)

58 (64)

No. of days of neuromuscular blockers, median (25–75th percentile)

1 (0–3)

Use of corticosteroids, n (%)

21 (78)

Ventilator use (days), median (25th–75th percentile)

7 (4–9)