Table 1.
Baseline patient demographic and clinical characteristics
| Dexemedetomidine | Haloperidol | P | |
| N | 10 | 10 | |
| Age, years: median (IQR) | 52 (42 to 69) | 68.5 (43 to 78) | 0.241 |
| Males: % | 90 | 80 | 0.531 |
| APACHE II score in the 24 hours immediately prior to enrolment: median (IQR) | 13.3 (10 to 18) | 15.5 (11 to 19) | 0.383 |
| Physical restraint prior to enrolment: % | 80 | 50 | 0.160 |
| Midazolam use: % | 60 | 40 | 0.371 |
| Propofol use: % | 70 | 70 | 1.000 |
| Haloperidol use: % | 30 | 10 | 0.264 |
| Morphine use: % | 80 | 80 | 1.000 |
| Other sedative or anti-psychotic use: % | 0 | 0 | |
| Time intubated prior to randomisation, hours: median (IQR) | 45.0 (34.5 to 73.3) | 65.2 (28.0 to 87.0) | 0.496 |
| RASS -2 to 1 (ie. desired level of sedation and agitation control) at enrolment: % | 30 | 10 | 0.264 |
| ICDSC ≥ 4 (ie. delirium present) at enrolment: % | 30 | 40 | 0.405 |
| ICDSC ≥ 4 at any stage prior to or during infusion of trial drug: % | 50 | 50 | 1.00 |
| ICDSC > 0 (ie. at least subsyndromal delirium present) at enrolment: % | 80 | 100 | 0.136 |
| ICDSC > 0 at any stage prior to or during infusion of trial drug: % | 100 | 100 | 1.00 |
| Surgical diagnosis: % | 70 | 30 | 0.074 |
| Admission diagnosis | 0.493 | ||
| Pneumonia, % | 0 | 20 | |
| Other sepsis, % | 20 | 20 | |
| Post cardiothoracic surgery, % | 30 | 10 | |
| Post neurosurgery, % | 30 | 20 | |
| Other, % | 20 | 30 |
APACHE = Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; ICDSC = Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist; IQR = interquartile range; RASS = Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale.