Table 1.
Baseline characteristics in the study patients
| Physiological parameters | Protocol-directed weaning group (cases) | Physician-directed weaning group (controls) |
| Patients (n) | 104 | 104 |
| Male sex (n [%]) | 62 (60) | 62 (60) |
| Age (years; mean ± SD) | 57 ± 18 | 56 ± 18 |
| SAPS II (mean ± SD) | 49 ± 18 | 49 ± 18 |
| Admission diagnosis (n [%]) | ||
| Medicine | 54 (52) | 63 (61) |
| Surgery | 25 (24) | 20 (19) |
| Neurosurgery | 19 (18) | 16 (15) |
| COPD | 6 (6) | 5 (5) |
Matching was successful for all parameters, and patients' physiological parameters were similar between groups. Admission diagnoses were similarly distributed between groups. COPD, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease; SAPS, Simplified Acute Physiology Score; SD, standard deviation.