Table 2 Patient characteristics according to whether therapy was limited or not (n = 306)

Age, years^a

64 ± 17

65 ± 17

0.75

Male gender, n (%)

76 (61)

112 (62)

0.96

Hospital length of stay, days^b

22 (9 to 36)

27 (13 to 44)

0.01

ICU length of stay, days^b

10 (5 to 19)

15 (7 to 31)

<0.01

APACHE II on admission to the ICU^a

20 ± 8

21 ± 7

0.22

GCS on admission to the ICU^b

14 (8 to 15)

10 (6 to 15)

<0.01

APACHE II 24 hours before death^a

23 ± 7

27 ± 7

<0.01

Having one or more chronic disorders,^c n (%)

64 (55)

114 (64)

0.12

Having malignancy, n (%)

29 (25)

48 (27)

0.72

Admission diagnosis, n (%)

   Cardiovascular

28 (23)

23 (13)

0.02

   Respiratory

29 (24)

53 (29)

0.30

   Gastrointestinal

21 (17)

31 (17)

0.97

   Neurologic

9 (7)

40 (22)

<0.01

   Sepsis

5 (4)

7 (4)

0.91

   Trauma

17 (14)

13 (7)

0.05

   Surgical, n (%)

68 (55)

79 (44)

0.05

Origin of admission, n (%)

   Emergency room

15 (13)

29 (16)

0.34

   Medical ward

42 (35)

59 (33)

0.68

   Surgical ward

37 (31)

53 (30)

0.78

   Operating room

18 (15)

26 (14)

0.78

   ICU of other hospital

7 (6)

12 (7)

0.78