Fig. 2

a Concentration of NRBCs in the blood of ARDS patients on the first consecutive 30 days on the ICU grouped by survivors and non-survivors. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD); n = 404. b Development of NRBC counts over the course of time in survivors (blue solid line; blue dashed line indicates trend) and non-survivors of ARDS (red solid line; red dashed line indicates trend) depicted as relative effect over time. The relative effect presents (in a scale between 0 and 1, and according to a probability) the specific treatment effect of the regarded group, relative to all groups, therefore to a “mean” treatment effect. Multivariate nonparametric analysis for longitudinal data, p < 0.001 for comparison between the two indicated groups. c Concentration of NRBCs in the blood of ARDS patients on the first consecutive 30 days on the ICU grouped by severity of lung failure according to the Berlin definition of ARDS (mild, moderate, severe). Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD); n = 404. d Development of NRBC counts over the course of time in severe ARDS (red solid line; red dashed line indicates trend) and moderate ARDS (black solid line; black dashed line indicates trend) depicted as relative effect over time. The relative effect presents (in a scale between 0 and 1, and according to a probability) the specific treatment effect of the regarded group, relative to all groups, therefore to a “mean” treatment effect. Multivariate nonparametric analysis for longitudinal data, p = 0.466 for comparison between the two indicated groups. The number of patients with mild ARDS was too low for statistical analysis over time; therefore mild ARDS has been excluded