Fig. 1.

RASS assessments during early (first 48 h) and subsequent study days. During the first 48 h following initiation of mechanical ventilation, 2,859 RASS assessments were conducted, of which 58 % (1,658) were in the −3 to −5 range compared to 34 % (4,258/13,319) in the −2 to +1 range (P < 0.0001). There was a significant increase in the RASS score of 0 (Calm) after the first 48 h [(4,688/13,319) 35.2 % versus (323) 11.3 % (P < 0.0001) in the first 48 h]