Methods Patients From January 2 through December 2002, we conducted an observational study including all patients (except livertransplanted patients) admitted to the multi-disciplinary intensive care unit 4131 at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, a secondary and tertiary reference hospital. Patients were included on admittance to the ICU. In cases of re-admittance, only measurements from the first admittance were included in the study.