Table 5.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups of patients. Number denotes mean (standard deviation) (a); raw number (percentages) (b); median [interquartile range] (c). Statistical significance was evaluated using two independent sample t-test (a); chi square (b); Mann–Whitney U test (c). CRP = C-Reactive Protein.
| 324 mg s.c. (n=47) | 400 mg i.v. (n=43) | Significance | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years)a | 66.8 (11.3) | 58.7 (12.6) | 3.182 | 0.002 |
| Gender (males)b | 34 (72.3%) | 30 (69.7%) | 0.072 | 0.788 |
| Diabetes (yes) b | 7 (14.9%) | 7 (16.2%) | 0.003 | 0.856 |
| Hypertension (yes) b | 24 (51%) | 17 (39.5%) | 1.203 | 0.273 |
| Heart disease(yes) b | 6 (12.7%) | 5 (11.6%) | 0.027 | 0.869 |
| Time to hospitalization (days)a | 10 (5.7) | 8.1 (10.1) | 1.068 | 0.289 |
| CRP at admission (mg/L)a | 109 (73.5) | 134 (80.5) | -1.550 | 0.125 |
| Temperature at admission (°C)c | 36 [36-39] | 38 [36-40] | 0.003 | |
| Procalcitonin (ng/L)c | 0.19 [<0.1-5.2] | 0.17 [<0.1-7.5] | 0.822 |