Table 1.
Comparison of the features and outcome of patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) or without tocilizumab (non-TCZ).
| Variables | All | TCZ (n = 27) | Non-TCZ (n = 27) | P | |
| Baseline | Age (yr), median (95%CI)# | 67.5 (59–71) | 68 (57–74) | 67 (53–71) | .658 |
| Men, n (%)## | 46 (85) | 23 (82.5) | 23 (82.5) | 1.000 | |
| Main co-morbidities | |||||
| - Obesity, n (%) | 27/52 (52) | 13 (48) | 14/25 (56) | .592 | |
| - Diabetes, n (%) | 19 (35) | 9 (33) | 10 (37) | 1.000 | |
| - Hypertension, n (%) | 38 (70) | 21 (78) | 17 (63) | .372 | |
| - Pulmonary disease, n (%) | 10 (18.5) | 5 (18.5) | 5 (18.5) | 1.000 | |
| - Cardiovascular disease, n (%) | 8 (15) | 4 (15) | 4 (15) | 1.000 | |
| - Tobacco (past/current), n (%) | 17/46 (37) | 4/22 (18) | 13/24 (54) | .016 | |
| Clinical features | |||||
| - Fever, n (%) | 47 (87) | 23 (85) | 24 (89) | 1.000 | |
| - Dyspnea, n (%) | 44 (81.5) | 21 (78) | 23 (85) | .728 | |
| - Cough, n (%) | 40 (74) | 20 (74) | 20 (74) | 1.000 | |
| - Anosmia, n (%) | 7/46 (15) | 3 (11) | 4/19 (21) | .424 | |
| - Dysgeusia, n (%) | 6/46 (13) | 4 (15) | 2/19 (10.5) | 1.000 | |
| - Breath rate at emergency room, % | 30 (25–33) | 30 (24–36) | 30 (24–36) | .958 | |
| - SaO2 at emergency room (%) | 91 (90–94) | 90 (86–94) | 93 (90–95) | .274 | |
| - SaO2 at admission in the unit, % | 96 (95–97) | 96 (95–97) | 95.5 (94–98) | .750 | |
| - O2 flow at admission in the unit (L/min) | 4.5 (4–6) | 4 (3–8) | 5 (3–10) | .910 | |
| - CT-scan lung injury extent (27 vs 21), n (%) | .145 | ||||
| <25% | 7/48 (15) | 4 (15) | 3 (14) | ||
| 25%–50% | 18/48 (37,5) | 7 (26) | 11 (52) | ||
| >50% | 23/48 (48) | 16 (59) | 7 (33) | ||
| Day 1 | Delay between symptom onset and hospital admission (d) | 7 (5–7) | 7 (5–8) | 6.5 (4–7) | .789 |
| Delay between symptom onset and aggravation (d) | 8 (7–9) | 9 (8–11) | 8 (6.5–8.5) | .041 | |
| SaO2, %∗ (22 vs 24) | 94.5 (93–95) | 93.5 (92–95) | 95 (93–98) | .173 | |
| O2 flow (L/min)∗ (22 vs 24) | 10 (8–13) | 10 (6.6–15) | 10 (6–15) | .578 | |
| High flow, n (%)∗ (22 vs 24) | 20 (37) | 9/22 (41) | 9/24 (37.5) | 1.000 | |
| Mechanical ventilation, n (%) | 8 (15) | 5 (18.5) | 3 (11) | .704 | |
| ICU direct admission, n (%) | 18 (33) | 6 (22) | 12 (44) | .151 | |
| C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 125 (105–157) | 181 (140–228) | 162 (115–239) | .657 | |
| Lymphocytes (/mm3) | 870 (764–931) | 860 (772–995) | 870 (625–981) | .540 | |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 1465 (956–1971) | 1852 (955–2166) | 1386 (529–1877) | .240 | |
| Day 7 | C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 23 (11–39) | 10.7 (28–104) | 52 (29–104) | <.001 |
| Lymphocytes (/mm3) | 1470 (1290–1790) | 1550 (1290–2019) | 1450 (753–1812) | .093 | |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 1107 (626–1350) | 927 (573–1351) | 1184.5 (793–1734) | .346 | |
| ICU transfer, n (%)£ | 14 (39) | 8/21 (38) | 6/15 (40) | 1.000 | |
| Mechanical ventilation, n (%)∗ | 17 (37) | 8/22 (36) | 9/24 (37.5) | 1.000 | |
| Oxygen-free, n (%) | 12 (22) | 5 (18.5) | 7 (25.9) | .745 | |
| Death, n (%) | 7 (13) | 3 (11) | 4 (15) | 1.000 | |
| Day 14 | C-reactive protein (mg/L) (8 vs 4) | 23 (3–91) | 6 (1.9–48) | 95 | .027 |
| Lymphocytes (/mm3) (16 vs 10) | 1405 (1261–1775) | 1760 (1320–2131) | 1260 (958–1406) | .027 | |
| Oxygen-free, n (%) | 19 (35) | 10 (37) | 9 (33) | .785 | |
| Death, n (%) | 8 (15) | 3 (11) | 5 (18.5) | .477 | |
| EOF Outcome | Death, n (%) | 11 (20) | 5 (18.5) | 6 (22.2) | 1.000 |
| Oxygen-free, n (%) | 29 (54) | 12 (44) | 17 (63) | .188 | |
| Concomitant treatment | Hydroxychloroquine, n (%) | 22 (41) | 13 (48) | 9 (33) | .406 |
| Lopinavir/ritonavir, n (%) | 10 (18.5) | 3 (11) | 7 (26) | .185 | |
| Corticosteroids, n (%) | 14 (26) | 12 (44) | 2 (7) | .002 | |
| Anticoagulation | |||||
| - Standard dose | 22 (41) | 9 (33) | 13 (48) | .256 | |
| - Intermediate dose | 8 (15) | 6 (22) | 2 (7) | ||
| - Curative | 22 (44) | 12 (44) | 12 (44) | ||