Univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors for severe clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea: Importance of co-morbidity and serum C-reactive protein

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Patient characteristics	Data
Age1 (yr)	76 (18-93)
Sex
Female	71 (57%)
Male	53 (43%)
Nursing home residency	19 (15%)
Charlson’s comorbidity score	4 (0-10)
GI procedures including PEG and surgery	13 (10%)
Previous medication:
Antibiotic therapy within 6 wk prior to onset CDAD	101 (81%)
Acid-suppressive therapy	66 (53%)
Immunosuppressive therapy	25 (20%)
Opioid use	57 (46%)
Laxative use	30 (24%)
Clinical features of CDAD
Hospital-acquired CDAD	101 (81%)
Interval onset of diarrhoea to CDAD therapy ≥ 7 d	45 (37%)
Body temperature ≥ 38°C	56 (45%)
Severe CDAD	27 (22%)
Laboratory at diagnosis:
White blood cell count (G/L)	14.1 (4.6-81.3)
CRP (mg/L)	118 (2-413)
Creatinine (mg/L)	11.5 (3.1-110.5)
Sodium (mmol/L)	136 (114-145)
Potassium (mmol/L)	3.52 (2.43-5.07)
Continuation of initial antibiotic therapy despite CDAD	71 (57%)
Antibiotic therapy for CDAD	113 (91%)
Length of hospital stay > 14 d	70 (56%)
30-d mortality	13 (10%)

¹Data are given as median (range) or number (percentage).