Table 1

Patient characteristics of participants and non-participants


Participants n = 81
Non-participants n = 61


Median (range)
Median (range)

Age of child at PICU admission(yrs)
5.8 (1–14.9)
4.9 (1–14.8)
Length of stay in PICU (days)
5.0 (1–305)*
2.0 (1–31)
Length of artificial ventilation (days)
4.0 (0–43)
2.0 (0–26)
Risk of Mortality, PIM 2 (%)
4.4 (0–32.4)
3.8 (0–80.5)


n (%)
n (%)

Male
44 (54)
36 (59)
Reason for PICU admission


Respiratory insufficiency
34 (42)
31 (51)
Circulatory insufficiency
18 (22)
12 (20)
Trauma
29 (36)
18 (29)
Treatment characteristics (yes)


Artificial ventilation
62 (76)
45 (74)
Circulatory support
22(27)
12 (20)

* p < 0.05 participants versus non-participants

Knoester et al. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2008 6:21   doi:10.1186/1477-7525-6-21