Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the STEROHCA trial population
| Randomization | ||
|---|---|---|
| Methylprednisolone, N = 68 | Placebo, N = 69 | |
| Demographic characteristics | ||
| Age, years, median (IQR) | 67 (57, 74) | 66 (56, 75) |
| Male, n (%) | 56 (82%) | 56 (81%) |
| Medical history | ||
| Hypertension, n (%) | 30 (44%) | 29 (42%) |
| Hypercholesterolemia, n (%) | 16 (24%) | 22 (32%) |
| Heart failure, n (%) | 16 (24%) | 12 (17%) |
| Ischemic heart disease, n (%) | 11 (16%) | 18 (26%) |
| Atrial fibrillation, n (%) | 11 (16%) | 14 (20%) |
| Previous PCI or CABG, n (%) | 7 (10%) | 13 (19%) |
| Previous pacemaker or ICD, n (%) | 2 (3%) | 4 (6%) |
| Stroke, n (%) | 7 (10%) | 2 (3%) |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 9 (14%) | 6 (9%) |
| Chronic kidney disease, n (%) | 1 (2%) | 0 (0%) |
| COPD, n (%) | 4 (6%) | 2 (3%) |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 23 (35%) | 23 (35%) |
| Former smoker, n (%) | 30 (44%) | 28 (41%) |
| Characteristics of the cardiac arrest | ||
| Witnessed arrest, n (%) | 57 (84%) | 64 (93%) |
| Bystander CPR, n (%) | 60 (88%) | 56 (81%) |
| Place of arrest, n (%) | ||
| Residential | 28 (41%) | 33 (48%) |
| Public place | 40 (59%) | 36 (52%) |
| First monitored defibrillator rhythm shockablea, n (%) | 64 (94%) | 65 (94%) |
| Bystander defibrillation, n (%) | 14 (21%) | 15 (22%) |
| Time to EMS arrival, min, median (IQR) | 7 (5, 9) | 7 (5, 9) |
| CPR-related injury, n (%) | 15 (22%) | 14 (20%) |
| Number of defibrillations | 3 (2, 4) | 2 (1, 3) |
| Adrenaline administered, n (%) | 43 (63%) | 32 (46%) |
| Amiodarone administered, n (%) | 32 (47%) | 17 (25%) |
| Time to ROSC, min, median (IQR) | 18 (13, 20) | 14 (10, 19) |
| ROSC at admission, n (%) | 67 (99%) | 68 (99%) |
| Prehospital seizures, n (%) | 3 (4%) | 5 (7%) |
| Clinical characteristics at admission | ||
| LVEF at arrival, (%), median (IQR) | 40 (25, 45) | 40 (25, 50) |
| Post-resuscitation ECG rhythm, n (%) | ||
| Sinus rhythm | 48 (71%) | 53 (77%) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 12 (18%) | 13 (19%) |
| Otherb | 8 (12%) | 3 (4%) |
| Post-resuscitation ECG, signs of ischemia, n (%) | ||
| ST-elevation | 29 (43%) | 28 (41%) |
| LBBB or RBBB | 16 (24%) | 19 (28%) |
| Unspecific ischemia | 4 (6%) | 10 (14%) |
| No ischemia | 19 (28%) | 12 (17%) |
| Cardiogenic shock at arrival, n (%) | 2 (3%) | 8 (12%) |
| Acute CAG, n (%) | 38 (56%) | 42 (61%) |
| Acute PCI, n (%) | 23 (34%) | 25 (36%) |
| Acute CABG, n (%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Patient consciousness at arrival, n (%) | ||
| Awake | 10 (15%) | 8 (12%) |
| Comatose | 58 (85%) | 61 (88%) |
CABG coronary arterial bypass grafting, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ECG electrocardiogram, EMS emergency medical services, ICD implantable cardioverter defibrillator, LBBB left bundle branch block, LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction, PCI percutaneous coronary intervention, RBBB right bundle branch block, ROSC return of spontaneous circulation
aIf an AED had provided a shock before EMS arrival, the primary rhythm was deemed shockable
bIncluding pace rhythm, nodal rhythm and sinus bradycardia