Table 1.
Baseline Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Study Patients
| Characteristics | Total (n = 213) |
SOC (n = 81) | Early CG (n = 132) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Median age (IQR), y | 62 (51–62) | 64 (51.5–3.5) | 61 (51–72) | .400 |
| Male sex, no. (%) | 109 (51.2) | 41 (50.6) | 68 (51.5) | .899 |
| Black race, no. (%) | 155 (72.8) | 50 (61.7) | 105 (79.5) | .004 |
| Median body mass index (IQR) - kg/m2 | 32 (27.3–38.7) | 30 (25–39) | 33.2 (28.9–38.5) | .007 |
| Coexisting conditions, no. (%) | ||||
| Asthma | 33 (15.5) | 16 (19.8) | 17 (12.9) | .180 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 98 (46) | 41 (51.9) | 57 (43.5) | .240 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 27 (12.7) | 15 (18.5) | 12 (9.1) | .045 |
| Congestive heart failure | 26 (12.2) | 10 (12.5) | 16 (12.2) | .951 |
| Coronary artery disease | 38 (17.8) | 18 (22.2) | 20 (15.2) | .192 |
| Diabetes | 105 (49.3) | 37 (45.7) | 68 (51.5) | .411 |
| Hypertension | 158 (74.2) | 62 (76.5) | 96 (72.7) | .925 |
| Malignancy | 24 (11.3) | 11 (13.6) | 13 (9.9) | .405 |
| Smoking history | 88 (41.3) | 40 (49.4) | 48 (36.4) | .062 |
| Symptoms | ||||
| Cough, no. (%) | 158 (74.2) | 62 (76.5) | 96 (72.7) | .536 |
| Fever, no. (%) | 150 (70.4) | 57 (70.4) | 93 (70.5) | .989 |
| Myalgia, no. (%) | 85 (39.9) | 32 (39.5) | 53 (40.2) | .926 |
| Shortness of breath, no. (%) | 148 (69.5) | 50 (61.7) | 98 (74.2) | .054 |
| Median duration of symptoms (IQR), d | 5 (3–7) | 5 (2–7) | 6 (3–7) | .107 |
| Severity of illness in ED | ||||
| Median qSOFA (IQR) | 1 (0–1) | 1 (0–1) | 1 (0–1) | .850 |
| Median NEWS (IQR) | 7 (4–10) | 7 (4–10) | 7 (4–9) | .668 |
| Requiring mechanical ventilation in ED, no. (%) | 22 (10.3) | 10 (12.3) | 12 (9.1) | .448 |
| Direct admission to ICU, no. (%) | 26 (12.2) | 11 (13.6) | 15 (11.4) | .631 |
Abbreviations: CG, corticosteroid group; ED, emergency department; ICU, intensive care unit; IQR, interquartile range; NEWS, National Early Warning Score; qSOFA, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; SOC, standard of care.