Fig. 2.
The heart rate characteristics (HRC) index and neonatal sequential organ failure assessment (nSOFA) scores for cases diagnosed as late-onset sepsis with bacteremia or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis-like illnesses, and sepsis ruled out. (A) Mean HRC index was higher from 48 hours before to 24 hours after blood culture for cases of late-onset sepsis (LOS) or NEC compared with events diagnosed as sepsis-like illness or sepsis ruled-out (*p < 0.05). (B) nSOFA scores were higher for events diagnosed as LOS or NEC than those where sepsis was ruled out (*p < 0.05 at all-time points), but were not different from sepsis-like illnesses.