| Parameters on admission | Final admission | Penultimate admission | OR |
| EWS (oa) median (range) | 3 (1–8) | 2(0–3) | p<0.005 |
| EWS(oa) >3 | 78% | 27.5% | OR 9.1 (3–25) p<0.001 |
| EWS(24) median (range) | 3 (2–8) | 2 (1–6) | p<0.01 |
| EWS(24) >3 | 68.8% | 30% | OR 5.1 (1.45–16) p<0.005 |
| WHO-PS median (range) | 3 (2–4) | 2 (0–3) | p<0.001 |
| WHO-PS >3 | 87.3% | 47.3% | OR 7.5 (2.7–20.4) p<0.005 |
| Arterial blood pH <7.35 | 49.0% | 15% | OR 5 (2–14) p<0.001 |
| Urea >7.0 mmol/l | 71% | 52% | OR 2.2 (0.9–5.1) p<0.05 |
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonalry disease; EWS, early warning score (composite score of bedside physiological measurements); oa, on admission; OR, odds ratio; 24, at 24 h; WHO-PS, WHO performance score.