In addition, age (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.06–1.08 per year), COPD/asthma (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.20–1.79), immune deficiency (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.18–2.07), morbid obesity (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.05–1.99), malignancy (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.19—2.74), SAPS3 (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.05 per unit increase) and admission month (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.36–0.63, June vs. March) were also significantly associated with mortality (Fig. 2 and Additional file 3: Table S1). This evidence concerns the gene PPP6R3 and cancer.