Table 2.
Demographic and clinical data differences between the two patients’ subgroups based on PaO2 median value.
| Characteristics | PaO2 < 67 (n = 34) | PaO2 ≥ 67 (n = 34) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic data | Mean (%) | Mean (%) | |
| Age, yrs | 66 ± 17.54 | 69 ± 1 5.50 | 0.640 |
| Sex (F) | 13 (38.2) | 12 (35.3) | 0.874 |
| Clinical data | |||
| Smokers | 2 (6.0) | 1 (3.0) | 0.502 |
| Ex-smokers | 9 (26.0) | 8 (24.0) | 0.559 |
| Vax-Complete cycle | 14 (41.2) | 16 (47.1) | 0.775 |
| Vax-Incomplete cycle | 2 (5.9) | 4 (11.8) | 0.296 |
| Hypertension | 18 (52.9) | 16 (47.1) | 0.714 |
| Asthma | 3 (8.8) | 5 (14.7) | 0.423 |
| COPD | 5 (14.7) | 5 (14.7) | 0.958 |
| Obesity | 8 (23.5) | 4 (11.8) | 0.171 |
| Symptoms | |||
| Fever | 20 (58.8) | 20 (58.8) | 0.882 |
| Dyspnoea | 22 (64.7) | 13 (38.2) | 0.038 |
| Cough | 10 (29.4) | 15 (44.1) | 0.175 |
| O2 therapy | |||
| O2in emergency room | 31 (91.2) | 19 (55.9) | 0.0072 |
| O2at Hospital | 34 (100.0) | 25 (74.5) | 0.0013 |
| NIV therapy (BPAP or CPAP) | 15 (44.1) | 0 (0.0) | < 0.0001 |
| CN high flux | 12 (35.3) | 3 (8.8) | 0.0069 |
| Outcome | |||
| IUC/Sub-IUC | 15 (44.1) | 3 (8.8) | 0,0010 |
| Respiratory failure | 32 (94.1) | 20 (58.8) | 0.0006 |
| Respiratory supports at the discharge time | 32 (94.1) | 24 (70.6) | 0.0015 |
Abbreviations:PaO2: arterial partial oxygen pressure; F female; COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; NIV, non-invasive ventilation; BPAP, bilevel positive airway pressure; CPAP, Continuous Positive airway Pressure; CN, nasal canula; IUC/Sub-IUC, intensive unit care/sub-intensive unit care. Data are presented as mean ± S.D or number (%, percentage). Differences between groups were evaluated by a non-parametric test (Mann-Withney test) and contingency test (Chi-sqaure test): ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0,01; ∗∗∗p < 0,001; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.