Table 1.
Baseline disease severity measures for patients treated versus not treated with steroids
| Characteristic/parameter | Steroidsa | No steroids | P value |
| Age (years; mean ± SD [n]) | |||
| Overall | 62 ± 15.9 (586) | 60 ± 17.3 (1104) | 0.024b |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 62 ± 16.1 (291) | 60 ± 17.7 (559) | 0.126b |
| Placebo | 62 ± 15.7 (295) | 60 ± 16.8 (545) | 0.098b |
| APACHE II (mean ± SD [n]) | |||
| Overall | 26.4 ± 7.6 (586) | 23.9 ± 7.6 (1104) | <0.001b |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 26.6 ± 7.7 (291) | 23.5 ± 7.4 (559) | <0.001b |
| Placebo | 26.2 ± 7.5 (295) | 24.3 ± 7.9 (545) | <0.001b |
| Number of organ dysfunctions (mean ± SD [n]) | |||
| Overall | 2.5 ± 1.1 (586) | 2.3 ± 1.1 (1104) | 0.018b |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 2.5 ± 1.1 (291) | 2.3 ± 1.1 (559) | 0.020b |
| Placebo | 2.5 ± 1.1 (295) | 2.4 ± 1.1 (545) | 0.301b |
| Baseline shockd (% [n]) | |||
| Overall | 74% (432) | 70% (768) | 0.073c |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 75% (217) | 68% (381) | 0.521c |
| Placebo | 73% (215) | 71% (387) | 0.565c |
| Baseline vasopressor (% [n]) | |||
| Overall | 64% (374) | 62% (683) | 0.429c |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 62% (179) | 60% (337) | 0.728c |
| Placebo | 66% (195) | 63% (346) | 0.450c |
| Baseline ventilator (% [n]) | |||
| Overall | 80% (471) | 73% (804) | <0.001c |
| Drotrecogin alfa (activated) | 79% (230) | 70% (393) | 0.006c |
| Placebo | 82% (241) | 75% (411) | 0.037c |
aPatients receiving steroids at baseline or infusion were classified as receiving steroids. bBy analysis of variance. cBy Pearson's χ2 test. dBaseline shock was shock at any time within 6 hours prior to drotrecogin alfa (activated) or placebo infusion. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation.