CRP and acute kidney injury: In the RF analysis and the logistic regression analysis carried out to identify the variables associated with the development of VA-LRTI, we found that the development of AKI during ICU stay (OR, 95% CI 1.32 [1.11–1.57]), along with days under IMV (OR, 95% CL 1.06 [1.05–1.07]) and high CRP serum concentration on ICU admission (OR% CL: 1.01 [1.01–1.01]) were significantly associated with the development of this VA-LRTI (Fig. 4).