Table 3.

Demographics and preoperative characteristics by period of operation in patients with severe peritonitis

Variable	COVID period (n = 101)	no-COVID period (n = 101)	P value
Age in years, median [IQR]	60 [42–75]	54 [38.5–73]	0.249
Sex, n (%)			0.044
Female	33 (32.7%)	47 (46.5%)
Male	68 (67.3%)	54 (53.5%)
BMI in kg/m2, mean ± STD	26.1 ± 2.3	26 ± 2.4	0.714
CACI > 3, n (%)	29 (28.7%)	28 (27.7%)	0.876
Previous abdominal surgery, n (%)			0.421
No surgery	73 (72.3%)	79 (78.2%)
Laparoscopic surgery	5 (5%)	2 (2%)
Open surgery	23 (22.8%)	20 (19.8%)
WBC count in 109/L, median [IQR]	14 [11.1–17.9]	13.4 [10–17.3]	0.367
PMN in %, mean ± STD	82.6 ± 11.4	82.9 ± 6.7	0.808
CRP in mg/dL, median [IQR]	14.9 [6.7–30.1]	14 [4.9–45.8]	0.910
qSOFA score, n (%)			0.096
0	74 (73.3%)	83 (82.2%)
1	19 (18.8%)	8 (7.9%)
2	6 (5.9%)	4 (4%)
3	0	1 (1%)
Missing	2 (2%)	5 (4.9%)
Diagnostic imaging type, n (%)			0.051
US	18 (17.8%)	33 (32.7%)
CT	80 (79.2%)	66 (65.3%)
Plain radiography	3 (3%)	2 (2%)
Imaging findings, n (%)
Abscess	36 (35.6%)	40 (39.6%)	0.561
Free fluid	71 (70.3%)	74 (73.3%)	0.639
Free air	38 (37.4%)	34 (33.7%)	0.557
Referral delay in hours, median [IQR]	48 [21–72]	24 [12–48]	0.004
Referral delay ≥ 48 h, n (%)	52 (51.5%)	36 (35.6%)	0.023
Operation delay in hours, median [IQR]	8 [5–19.5]	9 [4–17]	0.943
Total delay in hours, median [IQR]	55 [21–94]	36 [18–72]	0.072
ASA score, n (%)			0.562
1	25 (24.8%)	27 (26.7%)
2	36 (35.6%)	37 (36.6%)
3	27 (26.7%)	30 (29.7%)
4	13 (12.9%)	7 (6.9%)
Cause of peritonitis, n (%)
Perforated peptic ulcer	17 (16.8%)	9 (8.9%)	0.093
Small bowel perforation	8 (7.9%)	54 (4%)	0.234
Appendicitis	48 (47.5%)	66 (65.3%)	0.011
Acute diverticulitis	28 (27.7%)	22 (21.8%)	0.328

Significant P values are in bold