Saturday June 14, 2008
C-reactive protein concentration as a predictor of in-hospital mortality after ICU discharge


Purpose: To assess the ability of potential clinical predictors and inflammatory markers to predict in-hospital mortality after patient discharge from the intensive care unit.

Setting and participants: 1272 patients who survived their index admission to a 22-bed multidisciplinary ICU of a university hospital.

Results: There were 29 unexpected in-hospital deaths after ICU discharge (2.3%). C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations within 24 hours of ICU discharge were available for 14 of these 29 patients and 22 concurrent control patients.

• CRP concentration at ICU discharge was associated with subsequent mortality (mean CRP concentrations: cases, 204 mg/L v controls, 63mg/L; P = 0.001).
• CRP concentration remained significantly associated with post-ICU mortality after adjustment with other potential predictors of mortality.

The destination and timing of ICU discharge, SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score, white cell count and fibrinogen concentration at ICU discharge were not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality after ICU discharge.


Conclusions: A high CRP concentration at ICU discharge is an independent predictor of subsequent in-hospital mortality.


Reference: click to get abstract

C-reactive protein concentration as a predictor of in-hospital mortality after ICU discharge: a nested case–control study - Crit Care Resusc 2007; 9: 19–25


Above pearl is contributed by

Anthony Halat M.D.
ICU Physician
The Methodist Hospital,
Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas