Table 5

Difference in length of intensive care unit stay between the three study periods in severity subgroups of the study population

Subgroup and outcome

Pre-protocol

Transition

Protocol

High severity of illness

ICU length of stay, days, median (IQR)

2.4 (1.13–5.02)

2.06 (1.05–4.64)*

2.4 (1.21–4.71)

28–day ICU free days, median (IQR)

23.2 (0.0–26.2)

24.1 (0.0–26.4) *

24.4 (0.0–26.3)*

Low severity of illness

ICU length of stay, days, median (IQR)

1.0 (0.75–1.99)

1.0 (0.72–1.93)

1.1 (0.77–1.99)

28-day ICU free days, median (IQR)

26.9 (25.9–27.3)

26.9 (26.0–27.3)

26.9 (25.9–27.2)

*P value < 0.05 compared to the pre-protocol period; ICU = intensive care unit; IQR = interquartile range; SD = standard deviation

Afessa et al. BMC Emergency Medicine 2007 7:10   doi:10.1186/1471-227X-7-10