Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population (data are presented as n [%] or medians [IQR: 25th–75th interquartile range]).
| LRT success (n = 9) | LRT partially success (n = 17) | LRT failure (n = 8) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 8 (88.9%) | 11 (64.7%) | 6 (62.5%) | 0.370 |
| Age, years | 55 (45–68) | 65 (52–70) | 70 (53–79) | 0.203 |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| COPD | 0 | 3 (17.6%) | 1 (12.5%) | 0.413 |
| History of myocardial infarction | 1 (11.1%) | 2 (11.8%) | 0 | 0.602 |
| Transient ischemic attack/Stroke | 2 (22.2%) | 2 (11.8%) | 1 (12.5%) | 0.758 |
| Systemic hypertension | 4 (44.4%) | 6 (35.3%) | 4 (50%) | 0.764 |
| Diabetes | 2 (22.2%) | 3 (17.6%) | 0 | 0.386 |
| GERD | 0 | 2 (11.8%) | 1 (12.5%) | 0.552 |
| Dyslipidemia | 4 (44.4%) | 2 (11.8%) | 2 (25%) | 0.173 |
| Obesity | 0 | 5 (29.4%) | 1 (12.5%) | 0.158 |
| Immunodeficiency | 1 (11.1%) | 1 (5.9%) | 1 (12.5%) | 0.829 |
| Symptoms | ||||
| Fever (BT > 37 °C) | 5 (55.6%) | 12 (70.6%) | 7 (87.5%) | 0.353 |
| Dyspnea | 7 (77.8%) | 11 (64.7%) | 6 (75%) | 0.747 |
| Cough | 6 (66.7%) | 9 (52.9%) | 5 (62.5%) | 0.773 |
| Asthenia | 4 (44.4%) | 9 (52.9%) | 5 (62.5%) | 0.758 |
| Time from symptoms onset to LRT, days | 12 (10–16) | 15 (14–16) | 16 (14–21) | 0.090 |
| Time from hospitalization to LRT, days | 1 (0–6) | 7 (4–9) | 5 (1–11) | 0.080 |
| Radiology | ||||
| Normal | 1 (11.1%) | 0 | 0 | 0.239 |
| Consolidation | 1 (11.1%) | 4 (23.5%) | 2 (25%) | 0.712 |
| Interstitial | 1 (11.1%) | 3 (17.6%) | 0 | 0.441 |
| Interstitial and consolidation | 6 (66.7%) | 10 (58.8%) | 6 (75%) | 0.725 |
| Vital parameters baseline | ||||
| Systolic Blood Pressure, mmHg | 124 (120–154) | 130 (116–149) | 131 (119–155) | 0.953 |
| Diastolic Blood Pressure, mmHg | 72 (65–78) | 75 (66–77) | 69 (65–79) | 0.922 |
| Heart rate, bpm | 72 (71–93) | 72 (63–91) | 83 (80–88) | 0.585 |
| Respiratory rate, bpm | 30 (25–37) | 25 (20–30) | 21 (20–24) | 0.018* |
| SpO2, % | 95 (94–97) | 94 (93–96) | 94 (93–96) | 0.585 |
| Arterial-blood gas test | ||||
| pH | 7.46 (7.38–7.47) | 7.45 (7.44–7.48) | 7.46 (7.43–7.51) | 0.598 |
| PaCO2, mmHg | 39 (33–41) | 36 (35–38) | 37 (33–42) | 0.841 |
| PaO2, mmHg | 79 (67–90) | 72 (65–92) | 79 (71–90) | 0.812 |
| PaO2:FiO2 ratio | 176 (165–250) | 176 (141–228) | 218 (145–261) | 0.811 |
| A-aO2 | 161 (124–205) | 146 (129–245) | 121 (105–225) | 0.344 |
| Lactate, mmol/l | 0.9 (0.7–1.4) | 1.3 (0.7–1.9) | 1.1 (0.8–1.2) | 0.458 |
| FiO2, % | 37 (33–48) | 40 (35–50) | 36 (35–47) | 0.317 |
| Laboratory tests | ||||
| CRP, mg/dL | 9.9 (5.8–20.4) | 10.1 (7.6–15.4) | 12.5 (10–21.5) | 0.582 |
| White blood cells count, 109/L | 6.48 (5.82–10.07) | 4.63 (2.91–6.07) | 7.01 (5.87–8.8) | 0.013** |
| Lymphocytes, 109/L | 1.04 (0.59–1.31) | 0.82 (0.62–1.35) | 0.79 (0.73–1.06) | 0.901 |
| Neutrophils, 109/L | 4.9 (4.3–8.57) | 3.67 (2.19–4.45) | 5.49 (4.44–7.55) | 0.007*** |
| Platelets, m/mm3 | 211(186–348) | 188 (131–289) | 272 (234–308) | 0.304 |
| Hb, g/dL | 12.9 (9.3–13.5) | 12 (10.6–12.8) | 12 (11.3–12.7) | 0.317 |
| Therapies | ||||
| Antibiotic | 6 (66.7%) | 14 (82.4%) | 5 (62.5%) | 0.497 |
| Corticosteroid | 4 (44.4%) | 12 (70.6%) | 2 (25%) | 0.087 |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 6 (66.7%) | 15 (88.2%) | 5 (62.5%) | 0.265 |
Abbreviations: COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, GERD: gastro-esophageal reflux disease, BT: body temperature, LRT: lung recruitment test, PaCO2: partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide, PaO2: partial pressure of arterial oxygen, FiO2: fractional inspired oxygen, A-aO2: alveolar–arterial gradient of oxygen, CRP: C-reactive protein, Hb: hemoglobin.
Footnotes:
LRT Success vs. LRT Partially Success p = 0.107; LRT Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.004; LRT partially Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.124.
LRT Success vs. LRT Partially Success p = 0.013; LRT Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.963; LRT partially Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.016.
LRT Success vs. LRT Partially Success p = 0.004; LRT Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.673; LRT partially Success vs. LRT Failure p = 0.016.
A p-value <0.05 was defined as statistically significant.