We will examine blood markers from different distinct biologic pathways as candidate biomarkers. Thus, we will assess markers of infection, inflammation, organ dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction, vasodilation / infection-control, stress hormones, cardiac dysfunction, nutrition, and kidney function, which all have been shown to predict adverse outcomes in different types of medical conditions (Table  1). Depending on the HA-1077 molecular weight expected

benefit from a literature research, the available funding and logistic support, we will decide which markers should be analyzed in the stored aliquots. Table 1 Candidate Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical parameters for improved diagnostic and prognostic patient assessment Ancillary projects Within this study, we have several ancillary projects focusing on different aspects of patient care in this medical population. First, we will look at costs from Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical different perspectives, i.e. patient, society perspective, insurance perspective and hospital perspective. We will collect detailed

cost data as well as resource use data. Based on the daily clinical assessment we will have good estimates how length of stay (LOS) could be reduced in patients without increasing their risk, i.e. at the time patients are classified as “medically stable” by the treating physician Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical team. We will develop cost models using DRG reimbursements Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to evaluate the potential in savings. Second, within a subset of patients we will focus on psychological distress defined as negative psychological reaction which may pre-exist

or develop in the context of an acute disease potentially involving a variety of affective, cognitive, and behavioral reactions, such as fear, sadness, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical anxiety, frustration, or non-compliance. In this ancillary project we aim to explore the prevalence and course of patients’ psychological distress on ED the admission and within the hospital stay. To measure psychological distress we will use several validated instruments including the Distress Thermometer (DT) [68,69] and the positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) [70]. Beside general distress our focus will particularly lie on anxiety and depression assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) [71]. Additionally we will explore the relation of psychological distress with health outcomes (mortality, comorbidity, health-related quality of life, LOS among other) 30 days after admission. Finally, we aim to further delineate the role of specific patient’s psycho-social resources (personality, social support, age, sex, SES, medical diagnosis) with regard to distress and health outcomes.