Table 2.
Baseline characteristics of patients after propensity score matching
| Characteristics | Rhubarb group (n = 68) | Usual treatment group (n = 68) | Statistical values | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender, n | ||||
| Male | 50 | 53 | 0.360* | 0.548 |
| Female | 18 | 15 | ||
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 55.7 ± 19.2 | 57.1 ± 18.0 | −0.419† | 0.676 |
| SOFA score, mean ± SD | 5.38 ± 3.08 | 6.13 ± 3.81 | −1.262† | 0.209 |
| APACHE II score, mean ± SD | 13.32 ± 5.44 | 13.50 ± 5.43 | −1.089† | 0.850 |
| Feeding, n | ||||
| Yes | 27 | 22 | 0.798* | 0.372 |
| No | 41 | 46 | ||
| Bowel sound, n | ||||
| Normal | 22 | 19 | −0.797‡ | 0.425 |
| Weakening | 46 | 47 | ||
| Disappearance | 0 | 2 | ||
| Abdominal distension, n | ||||
| No | 6 | 0 | −1.191‡ | 0.234 |
| Light | 35 | 37 | ||
| Medium | 25 | 29 | ||
| Heavy | 2 | 2 | ||
| Vomiting, n | 7 | 6 | 0.085* | 0.771 |
| Frequency of defecation, n | ||||
| 0 | 61 | 60 | −0.301‡ | 0.764 |
| 1 | 7 | 7 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 1 | ||
| GI bleeding, n | 1 | 1 | 0.000* | 1.000 |
| AGI grade, n | ||||
| I | 23 | 14 | −1.143‡ | 0.253 |
| II | 37 | 48 | ||
| III | 8 | 6 | ||
| Use of medications, n | ||||
| Enemia glycerini | 52 | 50 | 0.157* | 0.692 |
| Clostridium butyricum tablets | 27 | 33 | 1.074* | 0.300 |
| Prokinetic agents | 17 | 18 | 0.038* | 0.844 |
| Lactulose oral solution | 15 | 17 | 0.163* | 0.686 |
| Liver function injury, n | 0 | 2 | 2.030* | 0.154 |
| Renal function injury, n | 9 | 11 | 0.234* | 0.628 |
| CRP (mg/L), median (Q1, Q3) | 51.57 (18.34, 107.72) | 57.89 (25.68, 114.78) | −1.090‡ | 0.276 |
| PCT (ng/ml), median (Q1, Q3) | 0.50 (0.20, 1.25) | 0.62 (0.20, 1.72) | −1.121‡ | 0.262 |
| Endotoxin (EU/ml), median (Q1, Q3) | 0.09 (0.07, 0.12) | 0.06 (0.05, 0.12) | −2.620‡ | 0.009 |
*Chi-square test; †t-test; ‡Nonparametric test. SOFA: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; APACHE II: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II; GI: gastrointestinal; AGI: Acute gastrointestinal injury; SD: Standard deviation; CRP: C-reactive protein.