Table 3:

Outcomes among patients with cirrhosis and sepsis receiving low-dose hydrocortisone

Outcome	Hydrocortisone n = 39	Placebo n = 36	Relative risk (95% CI)	p value
Mortality
28-day mortality, no. (%)	33 (85)	26 (72)	1.17 (0.92 to 1.49)	0.19
ICU mortality, no. (%)	24 (62)	24 (67)	0.92 (0.66 to 1.30)	0.64
Hospital mortality, no. (%)	34 (87)	32 (89)	0.98 (0.83 to 1.16)	0.82
Hemodynamic response
Change in norepinephrine infusion rate (day 2 – day 1), μg/kg per min, mean (SD)	−0.08 (0.22)	0.09 (0.28)	−0.17 (−0.28 to −0.05)*	0.005
Change in norepinephrine infusion rate (day 3 – day 1), μg/kg per min, mean (SD)	−0.16 (0.29)	0.11 (0.32)	−0.27 (−0.40 to −0.12)*	0.0006
Shock reversal, no. (%)	24 (62)	14 (39)	1.58 (0.91 to 2.55)	0.05
Vasopressor-free days, mean (SD)	6.8 (7.9)	5.6 (8.9)	1.2 (−2.7 to 5.1)*	0.54
Other outcomes
Ventilation-free days, mean (SD)	6.7 (7.7)	8.1 (10.9)	−1.4 (−5.8 to 2.9)*	0.51
Renal replacement therapy-free days, mean (SD)	6.7 (7.8)	6.4 (10.6)	0.2 (−4.0 to 4.5)*	0.92
ICU length of stay for ICU survivors, d, mean (SD)	9.2 (6.4)	9.6 (6.0)	−0.4 (−5.4 to 4.5)*	0.86
Hospital length of stay for hospital survivors, d, mean (SD)	27.2 (12.8)	43.3 (34.0)	−16.1 (−54.5 to 22.4)*	0.90
Complications
Shock relapse, no. (%)	14 (36)	5 (14)	2.46 (0.98 to 6.21)	0.03
Arrhythmia, no. (%)	10 (26)	6 (17)	1.54 (0.62 to 3.80)	0.34
Gastrointestinal bleeding, no. (%)	13 (33)	4 (11)	3.00 (1.08 to 8.36)	0.02
Hyperglycemia > 10 mmol/L, no. (%)	34 (87)	25 (69)	1.26 (0.98 to 1.61)	0.06
Ventilator-associated pneumonia, no. (%)	8 (21)	3 (8)	2.46 (0.71 to 8.57)	0.14
ICU-acquired bacteremia, no (%)	14 (36)	15 (42)	0.86 (0.49 to 1.52)	0.61
Any major complication, no. (%)	25 (64)	14 (39)	1.65 (1.03 to 2.64)	0.03

Note: CI = confidence interval, ICU = intensive care unit, SD = standard deviation.

^*Mean difference and 95% CI.