Table 3.

Unadjusted analysis of clinical outcomes according to emergency department sedation depth.

Outcome	Deep sedation (n= 171)	Light sedation (n= 153)	Unadjusted OR or Between-Group Difference (95% CI)	p
Ventilator-free days	18.1 (10.8)	20.0 (9.8)	1.9 (−0.40 to 4.13)	0.107
ICU-free days	16.3 (10.5)	17.9 (9.4)	1.6 (−0.54 to 3.83)	0.139
Hospital-free days	11.8 (9.6)	14.1 (8.9)	2.3 (0.26 to 4.32)	0.027
Mortality, n (%)	36 (21.1)	26 (17.0)	1.30 (0.74 - 2.28)	0.354
Acute brain dysfunction, n (%)	117 (68.4)	85 (55.6)	1.73 (1.10 - 2.73)	0.017
Delirium, n (%)	106 (62.0)	84 (54.9)	1.34 (0.86 - 2.09)	0.196
Coma, n (%)	16 (9.4)	3 (2.0)	5.12 (1.47 - 18.08)	0.005

ICU=intensive care unit; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval

Ventilator-, ICU-, and hospital-free days are indexed to study day 28. Mortality refers to all cause in-hospital mortality, censured at day 28. Acute brain dysfunction is a composite outcome comprised of delirium and coma, and was assessed over the first 48 hours in the ICU. Delirium was assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU), and coma was defined as being unresponsive or responsive to only physical stimulus (i.e. RASS −4 or −5) with every measurement of sedation depth.