A simple functional marker to predict the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Table 2 Comparison of patients according to mechanical ventilation requirement

Characteristics	Ventilated (MV⁺) patients n= 40	Nonventilated (MV^-) patients n= 21	P value
Sex, males/females	23/17	10/11	NS
Age, years	56 ± 20	46 ± 19	NS
SAPS II	28.2 ± 18.6	14.1 ± 6.8	0.0052
DSH, days	5.9 ± 6.9	5.8 ± 5.1	NS
Autonomic dysfunction, percentage	60	14	0.0006
Intensive care unit length of stay, days	40.4	13.0	0.001
EMG subtype, percentage of demyelinating type	77	71	NS
Infectious complications, percentage	85	5	0.0001
Median delay between immunotherapy and neurological improvement, days	27	4	0.001
Independent ambulation at follow-up, percentage	50	58	NS
Deaths, number (percentage)	4 (10)	0 (0)	-

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (median) unless otherwise stated. DSH, delay between onset of symptoms and hospital admission; EMG, electromyography; MV, mechanical ventilation; NS, not significant; SAPS II, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II.

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