Table 1 Patients’ general characteristics, comorbidities and admission data

General characteristics

 Age, year

60 [52–71]

59 [50–67]

68.5 [55–76]

0.03

 Women, n (%)

23 (28.8%)

16 (32%)

7 (23.3%)

 BMI, kg/m²

25.6 [21–30]

24.2 [21–27]

28.2 [24–32]

 < 0.01

Comorbidities

 Pulmonary comorbidities

  Obstructive disease, n. (%)

18 (22.5%)

10 (20%)

8 (26.7%)

0.58

  Restrictive disease, n. (%)

1 (1.3%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

1

  OAS, n. (%)

9 (11.3%)

5 (10%)

4 (13.3%)

0.72

  Other pulmonary disease, n. (%)

2 (2.5%)

2 (4%)

0 (0%)

0.53

  Home O₂-therapy, n. (%)

2 (2.5%)

2 (4%)

0 (0%)

0.53

  Home NIV-therapy, n. (%)

3 (3.8%)

2 (4%)

1 (3.3%)

1

 Cardiac comorbidities

  Coronary artery disease, n. (%)

6 (7.5%)

5 (10%)

1 (3.3%)

0.40

  Heart failure, n. (%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

 Other comorbidities

  Chronic kidney disease, n. (%)

4 (5%)

1 (2%)

3 (10%)

0.15

  Active neoplasia, n. (%)

22 (27.5%)

15 (30%)

7 (23.3%)

0.61

  Central neurological disease, n. (%)

1 (1.3%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

1

 Clinical Frailty Score

3 [2–5]

3 [2–5]

4 [2–5]

0.83

 NRS score at admission

6 [3–6]

6 [3–6]

5.5 [4–6]

0.37

Admission data

 Reason for ICU admission

0.31

  Cardiac arrest

5 (6.3%)

3 (6%)

2 (6.7%)

  Oliguria/anuria/CRRT need

2 (2.5%)

1 (2%)

1 (3.3%)

  Respiratory distress

20 (25%)

15 (30%)

5 (16.7%)

  Shock

9 (11.3%)

5 (10%)

4 (13.3%)

  Post-operative (planned)

6 (7.5%)

6 (12%)

0 (0%)

  Post-operative (emergency surgery)

11 (13.8%)

4 (8%)

7 (23.3%)

  Polytrauma

6 (7.5%)

4 (8%)

2 (6. 7%)

  Other hospital transfer

5 (6.3%)

3 (6%)

2 (6. 7%)

  Altered level of consciousness

16 (20%)

9 (18%)

7 (23.3%)

 Type of ICU admission

1

  Medical, n. (%)

28 (35%)

18 (36%)

10 (33.3%)

  Surgical, n. (%)

52 (65%)

32 (64%)

20 (66. 7%)

 SAPS II at admission

46.5 [39–62]

44.5 [36–64]

51.0 [43–61]

0.33

 SOFA Score at admission

9.0 [7–11]

8.0 [7–11]

9.0 [7–11]

0.89

Neurological reason for intubation

23 (28.8%)

11 (22%)

12 (40%)

0.13