Table 3.
Comparisons of characteristics between patients treated with and without corticosteroid in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
| Variables | Overall (N=82) |
Corticosteroid group (N=62) |
Noncorticosteroid group (N=20) |
P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline characteristics | ||||
| Age (years) | 56.9 ± 15.5 | 54.5 ± 15.3 | 64.5 ± 14.1 | 0.011 |
| Sex, male | 48 (58.5) | 36 (58.1) | 12 (60.0) | 0.879 |
| Any comorbidity | 49 (59.8) | 32 (51.6) | 17 (85.0) | 0.008 |
| Hypertension | 31 (37.8) | 21 (33.9) | 10 (50.0) | 0.196 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 18 (22.0) | 13 (21.0) | 5 (25.0) | 0.946 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 10 (12.2) | 7 (11.3) | 3 (15.0) | 0.962 |
| Chronic liver disease | 3 (3.7) | 3 (4.8) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.0) | 0.244 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 5 (6.1) | 2 (3.2) | 3 (15.0) | 0.169 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 6 (7.3) | 3 (4.8) | 3 (15.0) | 0.306 |
| Malignancy | 2 (2.4) | 2 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Rheumatic disease | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.0) | 0.244 |
| Signs and symptoms at admission | ||||
| Fever | 69 (84.1) | 56 (90.3) | 13 (65.0) | 0.019 |
| Cough | 66 (80.5) | 47 (75.8) | 19 (95.0) | 0.119 |
| Expectoration | 38 (46.3) | 29 (46.8) | 9 (45.0) | 0.890 |
| Dyspnea | 27 (32.9) | 19 (30.6) | 8 (40.0) | 0.439 |
| Temperature, ℃ | 37.3 ± 0.9 | 37.4 ± 0.9 | 37.0 ± 0.7 | 0.069 |
| Respiratory rate, breaths/min | 20.0 (20.0-22.0) | 20.0 (20.0–22.0) | 20.5 (20.0–22.0) | 0.943 |
| Laboratory findings at admission | ||||
| Arterial blood pH | 7.480 (7.442–7.503) | 7.483 (7.451–7.509) | 7.450 (7.427–7.480) | 0.033 |
| Arterial blood PaO2, mm Hg | 83.4 (63.3–104.3) | 85.8 (64.4–113.3) | 71.1 (56.1–83.0) | 0.092 |
| White blood cell count, *109/L | 5.51 ± 2.74 | 5.38 ± 2.27 | 5.90 ± 3.89 | 0.469 |
| Neutrophil count, *109/L | 3.48 (2.48–4.45) | 3.53 (2.75–4.59) | 2.96 (2.29–3.66) | 0.180 |
| Lymphocyte count, *109/L | 0.82 (0.63–1.18) | 0.80 (0.62–1.14) | 0.97 (0.66–1.39) | 0.259 |
| Serum lactate dehydrogenase, IU/L | 221.4 (176.2–318.8) | 247.0 (177.9–349.0) | 190.1 (149.0–217.0) | 0.017 |
| Chest radiography at admission | ||||
| Normal | 5 (6.1) | 2 (3.2) | 3 (15.0) | 0.169 |
| Unilateral lesion | 18 (22.0) | 9 (14.5) | 9 (45.0) | 0.011 |
| Bilateral lesion | 59 (72.0) | 51 (82.3) | 8 (40.0) | <0.001 |
| Treatments | ||||
| Antiviral therapy | 82 (100.0) | 62 (100.0) | 20 (100.0) | NA |
| Interferon | 57 (69.5) | 43 (69.4) | 14 (70.0) | 0.957 |
| Lopinavir/Ritonavir | 68 (82.9) | 55 (88.7) | 13 (65.0) | 0.035 |
| Arbidol | 47 (57.3) | 32 (51.6) | 15 (75.0) | 0.066 |
| Ribavirin | 6 (7.3) | 5 (8.1) | 1 (5.0) | 1.000 |
| Chloroquine phosphate | 3 (3.7) | 3 (4.8) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Antibiotic therapy | 71 (86.6) | 59 (95.2) | 12 (60.0) | <0.001 |
| Quinolones | 53 (64.6) | 47 (75.8) | 6 (30.0) | <0.001 |
| Cephalosporins | 12 (14.6) | 8 (12.9) | 4 (20.0) | 0.677 |
| Carbapenems | 7 (8.5) | 7 (11.3) | 0 (0) | 0.267 |
| Macrolides | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (5.0) | 0.244 |
| Penicillins | 22 (26.8) | 19 (30.6) | 3 (15.0) | 0.170 |
| Linezolid | 6 (7.3) | 5 (8.1) | 1 (5.0) | 1.000 |
| Polymyxin | 1 (1.2) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Teicoplanin | 1 (1.2) | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0) | 1.000 |
| Antifungal therapy | 4 (4.9) | 4 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0.568 |
| Voriconazole | 4 (4.9) | 4 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0.568 |
| Noninvasive mechanical ventilation | 16 (19.5) | 16 (25.8) | 0 (0) | 0.027 |
| Invasive mechanical ventilation | 10 (12.2) | 9 (14.5) | 1 (5.0) | 0.461 |
| ECMO | 6 (7.3) | 6 (9.7) | 0 (0) | 0.341 |
| CRRT | 7 (8.5) | 6 (9.7) | 1 (5.0) | 0.849 |
Values are presented as median (IQR),mean ± SD or number (percentage); p values were compared by Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, independent sample T test, or Mann-Whitney U test.
ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy; NA, not available.