The trends over the first 7 days of ICU stay (primary analysis) retained as independently associated with 6-month outcome were worsening thrombocytopaenia (mortality HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.03, P < 0.001) and changes in renal function (total daily urine output HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.03, P < 0.001; renal SOFA subscore HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.99, P = 0.047), highest recorded level of bilirubin (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.99 to 0.99, P = 0.02) and GCS SOFA subscore (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68 to 0.98, P = 0.028). Changes in renal function (total daily urine output and renal component of the SOFA score), GCS component of the SOFA score, total SOFA and worsening thrombocytopaenia were also independently associated with secondary outcomes. Dynamic trends over the first 7 days of ICU stay in all other measured laboratory variables, physiological parameters or radiological findings failed to be retained as independently associated with outcome on multivariate analyses. Furthermore, changes in respiratory support, renal replacement therapy and inotropic and/or vasopressor requirements appeared not to be independently associated with any of the primary or secondary outcomes. Secondary post hoc analyses on trends over the first 3 and 5 days corroborated these findings.