The primary cause for ICU admission was ARF in 42 (62.7%) patients. Other reasons were cardiopulmonary arrest (10.4%), septic shock (7.5%), sepsis (6.0%), and altered sensorium (6.0%). The mean APACHE II score was 22.8 ± 6.8. Among ICU admissions, 18.9% and 81.1% were classified as early and late, respectively. At ICU admission, most of the patients had anemia (92.5%), with more than a half (52.2%) of these having hemoglobin levels < 9 g/dL. The white blood cell (WBC) count was less than 4000 mm -3 in 14 patients (20.9%) and more than 12000 mm -3 in 13 patients (19.4%). Hypoalbuminemia was present in 45 (67.2%) patients. Mean serum albumin level was 2.2 ± 0.8 g/dL.