Table 3.

Estimated effects of corticosteroid treatment on 60-day mortality in patients with ARDS associated with COVID-19

	Nos.	Hazard ratio	95% CI	p value
All ARDS patients
Full multivariate modela	355	0.421	0.21, 0.85	0.0160
Sensitivity analysis
ARDS patients defined by Berlin definition	168	0.43	0.21, 0.88	0.0208
Initiated ≤ 2 days after hospital admission versus no corticosteroids (reference)	262	0.37	0.18, 0.76	0.0072
Full multivariate model, ARDS onset as baselineb	335	0.48	0.24, 0.97	0.0399
Initiated ≤ 2 days after ARDS onset versus no corticosteroids, ARDS onset as baselineb (reference)	279	0.45	0.22, 0.92	0.0275

All of the models assessed the effects of corticosteroids as a time-varying covariate

ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome, FIO₂ fraction of inspired oxygen, SOFA sequential organ failure assessment, SpO₂ pulse oxygen saturation

^aAdjusted for age, sex, SOFA score at hospital admission, propensity score of corticosteroid treatment, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, chronic renal or liver disease, solid malignant tumor, hematologic malignancy, and immunosuppressive status), antiviral treatment (Lopinavir–Ritonavir, oseltamivir, and ganciclovir), and respiratory supports (high-flow oscillation oxygen, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, and invasive mechanical ventilation). Propensity score was calculated by a non-parsimonious logistic regression model that included: age, sex, SOFA score, temperature, respiratory rate, SpO₂/FiO₂ ratio, blood lymphocyte count, blood neutrophil count, and level of c-reactive protein at hospital admission

^bUsing values of SpO₂/FiO₂ ratio, respiratory rate, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, SOFA score, blood lymphocyte count, blood neutrophil count, and level of CRP at ARDS onset