Prediction in Critical Care 
Science, Art or Foolishness 
David Pilcher 
@Intensive Dave 
The Alfred Hospital & ANZICS CORE
Michael 
65yrs 
83kg 174cm 
Sepsis
634 BC 
23rd October 1998 
1st January 2000 
Predictions are common. 
21st December 2012 
26th April 2026
Predictions are common.
“I do a bit of modelling….” 
Predictions are common.
“I do a bit of modelling….” 
Predictions are common.
Discrimination Calibration Validation
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Binary Outcomes Only
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Binary Outcomes Only
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Binary Outcomes Only
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Binary Outcomes Only 
Burns
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Burns 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.92
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
50yrs 
+ = 
40% 
50%Mortality 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Burns 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.92
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.92 Burns 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
50yrs 
+ = 
60% 
50%Mortality 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Predicted Mortality 
from APACHE III 
Observed Mortality 
Acute Physiology and 
Chronic Health 
APACHE 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.88
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
14% 
12% 
10% 
8% 
6% 
4% 
2% 
0% 
Year 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
APACHE III 
Observed 
Mortality 
ANZ Risk of Death 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.90
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
14% 
12% 
10% 
8% 
6% 
4% 
2% 
0% 
Year 
100% 
80% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
0% 
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 
Sensitivity 
1- specificity 
Observed 
Mortality 
ANZ Risk of Death 
Area under 
Receiver Operator 
Characteristic = 0.90 
ANZROD
Michael 
65yrs 
83kg 174cm 
Sepsis Is your ICU any good?
Observed Deaths 
Predicted Deaths = Standardised 
Mortality Ratio 
Is your ICU any good? 
Michael 
65yrs 
83kg 174cm 
Sepsis
Is your ICU any good? 
1.6 
1.4 
1.2 
1.0 
0.8 
0.6 
0.4 
0.2 
0.0 
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 
Number of admissions 
More deaths 
than predicted 
Less deaths 
than predicted 
Standardised Mortality Ratio 
Michael 
65yrs 
83kg 174cm 
Sepsis
Is your ICU any good? 
1.6 
1.4 
1.2 
1.0 
0.8 
0.6 
0.4 
0.2 
0.0 
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 
Number of admissions 
More deaths 
than predicted 
Less deaths 
than predicted 
Standardised Mortality Ratio 
Michael 
65yrs 
83kg 174cm 
Sepsis
634 BC 
23rd October 1998 
1st January 2000 
Predictions are common. 
21st December 2012 
26th April 2026
634 BC 
23rd October 1998 
1st January 2000 
21st December 2012 
26th April 2026
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs 26th April 2026
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
40% 
35% 
30% 
25% 
20% 
15% 
10% 
5% 
0% 
Mortality 
Year 
Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
Discrimination Calibration Validation 
Predictions are important. 
They tell us where are now and 
where we could be in the future. 
Thank you 
@IntensiveDave

Pilcher, David — Prediction in Critical Care: Science, Art or Foolishness?

  • 1.
    Prediction in CriticalCare Science, Art or Foolishness David Pilcher @Intensive Dave The Alfred Hospital & ANZICS CORE
  • 2.
    Michael 65yrs 83kg174cm Sepsis
  • 3.
    634 BC 23rdOctober 1998 1st January 2000 Predictions are common. 21st December 2012 26th April 2026
  • 4.
  • 5.
    “I do abit of modelling….” Predictions are common.
  • 6.
    “I do abit of modelling….” Predictions are common.
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Binary Outcomes Only
  • 9.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Binary Outcomes Only
  • 10.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Binary Outcomes Only
  • 11.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Binary Outcomes Only Burns
  • 12.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Burns Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.92
  • 13.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 50yrs + = 40% 50%Mortality Sensitivity 1- specificity Burns Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.92
  • 14.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.92 Burns 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 50yrs + = 60% 50%Mortality Sensitivity 1- specificity
  • 15.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Predicted Mortality from APACHE III Observed Mortality Acute Physiology and Chronic Health APACHE Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.88
  • 16.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Year 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity APACHE III Observed Mortality ANZ Risk of Death Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.90
  • 17.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Year 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Sensitivity 1- specificity Observed Mortality ANZ Risk of Death Area under Receiver Operator Characteristic = 0.90 ANZROD
  • 18.
    Michael 65yrs 83kg174cm Sepsis Is your ICU any good?
  • 19.
    Observed Deaths PredictedDeaths = Standardised Mortality Ratio Is your ICU any good? Michael 65yrs 83kg 174cm Sepsis
  • 20.
    Is your ICUany good? 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Number of admissions More deaths than predicted Less deaths than predicted Standardised Mortality Ratio Michael 65yrs 83kg 174cm Sepsis
  • 21.
    Is your ICUany good? 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Number of admissions More deaths than predicted Less deaths than predicted Standardised Mortality Ratio Michael 65yrs 83kg 174cm Sepsis
  • 22.
    634 BC 23rdOctober 1998 1st January 2000 Predictions are common. 21st December 2012 26th April 2026
  • 23.
    634 BC 23rdOctober 1998 1st January 2000 21st December 2012 26th April 2026
  • 24.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 25.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs 26th April 2026
  • 26.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 27.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 28.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 29.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 30.
    40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Mortality Year Declining Mortality for Sepsis & Septic Shock in ANZ ICUs
  • 31.
    Discrimination Calibration Validation Predictions are important. They tell us where are now and where we could be in the future. Thank you @IntensiveDave