Table 3.

Six variables selected by forward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis for discharge triage predictive model^*

Variable	β (SE)	P value
Age	0.0532 (0.0094)	<0.0001
Chronic health points	0.2501 (0.0728)	0.0006
Acute physiology points	0.1556 (0.0300)	<0.0001
Cardiac surgery	−2.1084 (0.2712)	<0.0001
Length of ICU stay	0.0447 (0.0153)	0.0034
Constant	−4.5821 (0.6825)	<0.0001

^*Variables considered in models: acute physiology points (APP), length of stay on unit, therapeutic intervention score, duration (days) on mechanical ventilation, dialysis, age, presence of chronic ill health, and number of failing organs. APP used in preference to APACHE II score because APACHE II is derived from APP, age points, chronic ill health points, and presence or absence of emergency surgery.