C-reactive protein concentration as a predictor of in-hospital mortality after ICU discharge: a prospective cohort study

A total of 26 in-hospital deaths after ICU discharge (4.3%) were identified. C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at ICU discharge were associated with subsequent in-hospital mortality in the univariate analysis (mean CRP concentrations of non-survivors = 174 vs. survivors = 85.6 mg/l, p = 0.001). CRP concentrations remained significantly associated with post-ICU mortality (a 10-mg/l increment in CRP concentrations increased the odds ratio [OR] of death: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.16); after adjusting for age, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II predicted mortality, and the Delta Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (Delta SOFA) score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of this multivariate model to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors after ICU discharge was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73–0.96). The destination and timing of ICU discharge, and the Discharge SOFA score, white cell counts and fibrinogen concentrations at ICU discharge were not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality after ICU discharge.