Table 5.
Comparison of clinical presentation and biomarkers of exacerbated patients with LOS <7 days and ≥7 days
| Parameter | LOS <7 days (n=42) |
LOS ≥7 days (n=20) |
P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT (ng/mL)* | 0.10 (0.03–19.6) | 0.38 (0.05–18.48) | 0.03 |
| CRP (mg/L)* | 27 (1–274) | 37 (4–700) | 0.31 |
| DECAF score* | 2 (1–5) | 3 (2–4) | 0.05 |
| Number of comorbidities* | 3 (0–5) | 3 (1–6) | 0.92 |
| Age (years)# | 78.74 (8.0) | 80.59 (6.2) | 0.40 |
| Serum albumin (mg/dL)# | 31.41 (8.1) | 25.2 (6.8) | 0.01 |
| PaCO2 at ER# | 42.63 (14.34) | 45.85 (12.78) | 0.44 |
| WBC count (cells/mm3)* | 12,264 (5,270–24,390) | 14,397 (5,360–40,480) | 0.23 |
| Invasive mechanical ventilation, n (%) | 37 (88.1%) | 6 (30.0%) | 0.004 |
Notes:
*
Data were presented as median (range) and
#
data were presented as mean (SD).
Abbreviations: LOS, length of hospital stay; PCT, procalcitonin; CRP, C-reactive protein; DECAF, dyspnea, eosinopenia, consolidation, acidemia, and atrial fibrillation; PaCO2, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide; ER, emergency room; WBC, white blood cells.