Furthermore, PCT (≥ 0.10 ng/mL) and CRP (≥ 52.14 mg/L) exhibited independent increasing risks of mortality after adjusting for age, sex, cancer, ARDS, hypohepatia, renal insufficiency, heart failure and shock in model 2, with HRs of 52.68 (95% CI: 1.77–1571.66) and 5.47 (95% CI: 1.04–28.72), respectively. Here, CRP is linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome.