Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population and clinical outcomes.
| Characteristics | Total (n = 83) | eHDM group (n = 31) | Control group (n = 52) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||||
| Age (median, IQR) | 66 (51.2–84) | 61 (50.8–76) | 65.5 (63–84) | 0.118 |
| Male sex (n, %) | 58 (69.9) | 22 (70.9) | 36 (69.2) | 0.782 |
| BMI (median, IQR) | 28.9 (25–36) | 26.6 (24.8–35) | 27.5 (25.5–36) | 0.456 |
| Comorbidity (n, %) | 70 (84.3) | 26 (83.9) | 44 (84.6) | 0.331 |
| -hypertension | 38 (45.8) | 13 (41.9) | 25 (48) | 0.112 |
| -diabetes mellitus | 25 (30.1) | 10 (32.2) | 15 (28.8) | 0.313 |
| -cardiovascular diseases | 21 (25.3) | 9 (29) | 12 (23) | 0.090 |
| -immunologic diseases | 5 (6) | 1 (3.2) | 4 (7.7) | 0.415 |
| -neoplastic illness | 4 (4.8) | 2 (6.4) | 2 (3.8) | 0.109 |
| -kidney diseases | 9 (10.8) | 3 (9.7) | 6 (11.5) | 0.229 |
| -chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases | 14 (16.9) | 4 (12.9) | 10 (19.2) | 0.087 |
| Direct admission in ICU (n, %) | 71 (85.5) | 25 (80.6) | 46 (88.4) | 0.356 |
| Days from the onset of symptoms (median, IQR) | 12.5 (6.5–15.5) | 10.5 (7.5–13) | 12.5 (6–16) | 0.334 |
| Days to CS start after admission (median, IQR) | 4.5 (2.5–8.5) | 2 (1–2.5) | 4 (3.5–9) | <0.001 |
| ARDS (n, %) | 0.026 | |||
| -mild/moderate | 45 (54.2) | 13 (41.9) | 32 (61.5) | |
| -severe | 38 (45.7) | 18 (58) | 20 (38.5) | |
| NIV (n, %) | 47 (56.6) | 22 (70.9) | 25 (48) | 0.081 |
| Requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (n, %) | 36 (43.4) | 9 (29) | 27 (51.9) | 0.070 |
| Requiring vasopressor support (n, %) | 16 (19.3) | 6 (19.3) | 10 (19.2) | 0.450 |
| PSI baseline score (median, IQR) | 110 (95–135) | 112 (91–130) | 109 (94–135) | 0.113 |
| BRCSS baseline score (median, IQR) | 4.5 (3–7) | 4 (3–6) | 4.5 (2–7) | 0.514 |
| SOFA baseline score (median, IQR) | 2 (1.5–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2.5 (1–3) | 0.219 |
| Laboratory examinations | ||||
| WBC (109/L) | 4.1 (3.9–8.6) | 4.5 (3.8–7.7) | 4.4 (3.9–8.7) | 0.228 |
| Platelets (109/L) | 184 (95–633) | 192 (110–598) | 189 (100–640) | 0.395 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 69.8 (55.5–135) | 71.5 (55.9–134.8) | 68.9 (54.8–131.6) | 0.628 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 1213 (653–6678) | 1318 (690–6145) | 1299 (700–5199) | 0.989 |
| D-dimer (ng/mL) | 966 (344–2878) | 811 (288–2009) | 915 (290–2907) | 0.667 |
| Procalcitonin (ng/mL) | 1.4 (0.8–4.5) | 1.2 (0.9–3.6) | 1.6 (1.1–4.9) | 0.051 |
| P/F (median, IQR) | 229 (90.5–271.8) | 218 (96.6–269.5) | 220 (91.4–276.9) | 0.335 |
| Lactates (mmol/L) | 2.3 (1.8–4.2) | 2.2 (1.5–4.1) | 2.1 (1.7–4.3) | 0.429 |
| PEEP (cm H2O) | 10 (5–10) | 10 (5–10) | 10 (5–10) | 0.762 |
| Clinical outcomes | ||||
| Days of hospitalization (median, IQR) | 26.5 (19.5–34.5) | 21.5 (18.5–28.5) | 28.4 (18.8–34.5) | 0.026 |
| Days in NIV (median, IQR) | 11.8 (7.5–20.5) | 10.5 (7.5–21.5) | 13.5 (9.5–20.5) | 0.041 |
| Days in mechanical ventilation (median, IQR) | 10.5 (8.5–14.5) | 8 (8–11) | 10.5 (9.5–14.5) | 0.028 |
| Death (n, %) | 17 (20.5) | 5 (16%) | 12 (23%) | 0.006 |
| Clinical improvement (n, %) | 27 (32.5) | 16 (51.6) | 11 (21.1) | 0.018 |
| Sepsis (n, %) | 39 (47) | 10 (32.2) | 29 (55.8) | <0.001 |
| Candidemia (n, %) | 14 (16.9) | 4 (12.9) | 10 (19.2) | 0.110 |
| Documented VAP | 16 (19.3) | 4 (12) | 12 (23) | 0.006 |
| Laboratory and radiologic changes at 48h | ||||
| P/F increase (median, IQR) | 10.5 (2–38) | 22 (17.5–38) | 5 (2–12) | 0.009 |
| CRP (mg/L) reduction (median, IQR) | 5.5 (0–16.5) | 8.5 (0–16.5) | 4 (0–7.5) | 0.005 |
| Ferritin reduction (ng/mL) (median, IQR) | 122.5 (13–370) | 190 (78–370) | 71 (13–211) | 0.011 |
| Radiological improvement (n, %) | 32 (38.5) | 18 (58) | 14 (27) | <0.001 |