Table 2. Change in the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the patients on day three and day seven of N-acetylcysteine administration.
Abbreviations: NAC, N-acetylcysteine; NA, Not Applicable; PaO2, Partial Pressure of Oxygen; PaCO2, Partial Pressure of Carbondioxide
| Patient Characteristics | On Day 3 of Admission | On Day 7 of Admission | ||||
| NAC group (n=21) | Non-NAC group (n=19) | P value | NAC group (n=21) | Non-NAC group (n=19) | P value | |
| Mean PaO2 level, mmHg | 79.4 ± 15.3 | 70.3 ± 10.7 | 0.03 | 93.5 ± 3.5 | 90.1 ± 4.8 | 0.01 |
| Mean PaCO2 level, mmHg | 45.1 ± 4.2 | 46.3 ± 4.6 | 0.39 | 37.1 ± 3.2 | 39.8 ± 2.8 | 0.007 |
| Mean oxygen saturation, % | 92.4 ± 4.3 | 89.7 ± 5.1 | 0.07 | 97.6 ± 1.2 | 96.1 ± 2.7 | 0.02 |
| Wheeze, % | 4 (19%) | 10 (52.6%) | 0.02 | 1 (4.8%) | 6 (31.6%) | 0.02 |
| Dyspnea at rest, % | 5 (23.8%) | 7 (36.8%) | 0.36 | 0 | 2 (10.5%) | NA |
| Dyspnea at night, % | 1 (4.8%) | 0 | NA | 0 | 1 (5.3%) | NA |
| Dyspnea only on exertion, % | 3 (14.3%) | 9 (47.4%) | 0.02 | 1 (4.8%) | 4 (21%) | 0.11 |
| Need for nasal oxygen support, % | 6 (28.5%) | 12 (63.2%) | 0.03 | 3 (14.3%) | 9 (47.4%) | 0.02 |