Baseline plasma-free cortisol , plasma total cortisol , and plasma-free cortisol/plasma total cortisol ratios were higher in nonsurvivors as compared with survivors ( @ nmol/L -LSB- @-@ nmol/L -RSB- vs @ nmol/L -LSB- @-@ nmol/L -RSB- , p = @ ; @ nmol/L -LSB- @-@ ,@ nmol/L -RSB- vs @ nmol/L -LSB- @-@ nmol/L -RSB- , p = @ ; and @ -LSB- @-@ @ -RSB- vs @ -LSB- @-@ @ -RSB- ; p = @ , respectively ) .