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Table 1 Candidate predictors of mortality considered for building multivariable model

From: Predicting mortality in sick African children: the FEAST Paediatric Emergency Triage (PET) Score

Clinical bedside candidate predictors a

Percentage missing

Laboratory candidate predictors a

Percentage missing

Age (months)

0 %

Base excess (mmol/L)

34 %

Axillary Temperature (°C)

<1 %

Blood urea nitrate (mg/dL)

38 %

Capillary refill time (seconds)

<1 %

Chloride (mmol/L)

34 %

Conscious level b

<1 %

Glucose (mmol/L)

6 %

Cough

<1 %

Haemoglobin (g/dL)

3 %

Lung crepitations c

<1 %

HIV status

21 %

Decreased skin turgor

<1 %

Lactate (mmol/L)

5 %

Deep breathing

<1 %

Malaria positive

1 %

Fits greater than 30 min in this illness

1 %

Oxygen saturation (%)

4 %

Fits in this illness

<1 %

pCO2 (mmHg)

34 %

Fitting/convulsions at admission

1 %

pH

34 %

Heart rate (beats/min)

<1 %

Potassium (mmol/L)

35 %

History of fever

<1 %

Sodium (mmol/L)

33 %

Indrawing

<1 %

Systolic blood pressure

2 %

Jaundice

<1 %

TCO2 (mmol/L)

36 %

Liver size >2 cm below costal margin

<1 %

  

Neck stiffness or bulging fontanelle

<1 %

Other predictors not considered

 

Respiratory distress

<1 %

Mid-upper arm circumference

6 %

Respiratory rate (breaths/min)

<1 %

  

Severe pallor d

<1 %

  

Sex

0 %

  

Temperature gradient e

0 %

  

Vomiting

<1 %

  

Weak pulse

0 %

  

Weight (kg)

0 %

  
  1. a Alphabetical order
  2. b Conscious level defined as prostrate (the inability of a child older than 8 months of age to sit upright or the inability of a child 8 months of age or younger to breast-feed) or coma (the inability to localize a painful stimulus)
  3. c Added breath sounds heard on inspiration in one or both lung fields: any one of crackles, clicks or rattling (rales)
  4. d Severe pallor manifested in tongue, gums, or inner eyelids
  5. e The temperature gradient was assessed by running the back of hand from the toe to the knee; a positive temperature gradient was defined as a notable temperature change from cold (dorsum of foot) to warm (knee)