Table 1 Criteria of organ failure of single organ systems as used in the study according to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment

Lung

PaO₂/FiO₂ < 200 and mechanically ventilated

Heart

dopamine >5 μg/kg/min or any administration of (nor-)/epinephrine

Central nervous system

Glasgow Coma Scale ≤9

Coagulation

platelets <50/nl

Liver

bilirubin ≥6.0 mg/dl

Kidney

creatinine ≥3.5 mg/dl or urine output <500 ml/d