Table 1.
Characteristics and outcome of patients that received or did not received tocilizumab in a conventional ward.
| Variables | Tocilizumab group (N=77) | Control group (N=94) | P- value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) age in years | 61.5 (12.4) | 61.4 (16.0) | 0.957 |
| Age > 62 years old (%) | 40 (52) | 52 (55.3) | 0.660 |
| Male (%) | 53 (68.8) | 59 (62.7) | 0.406 |
| Comorbidities (%) Hypertension Heart diseases Chronic respiratory disease Diabetes Mellitus |
35 (45.4) 12 (15.5) 8 (10.3) 12 (15.6) |
43 (45.7) 21 (22.3) 12 (12.7) 14 (15) |
0.960 0.265 0.630 0.900 |
| Mean (SD) days from symptoms onset to admission | 6.5 (3.3) | 5 (6.5) | 0.061 |
| Initial characteristics (%) Fever Dyspnea Cough Normal chest x-ray at admission Need of oxygen therapy at day 1 Positive PCR from a nasal swab |
86 (98.7) 33 (43) 64 (83) 3 (4) 56 (72.7) 68 (88.3) |
80 (85) 47 (50) 70 (74.5) 14 (15) 50 (53.8) 82 (87.2) |
0.002 0.352 0.172 0.017 0.011 0.831 |
| Laboratory at admission mean (SD) D-dimer (ng/mL)a Lymphocytes count (cell/mm3) C-Reactive protein (mg/dL)b Serum ferritin (ng/dL)c |
918.6 (1354.8) 878.9 (452.8) 9.7 (7.4) 867.8 (871) |
1503.9 (2175.4) 910.1 (534.6) 7.5 (5.7) 904.1 (809.9) |
0.100 0.686 0.044 0.842 |
| ARDS at any given time (%) | 24 (31.1) | 26 (27.6) | 0.616 |
| Treatments received (%) Antiviral agentsd Steroid prior ICU admission |
77 (100) 39 (50.6) |
91(96.8) 26 (27.7) |
0.164 0.002 |
| Not candidate to ALS (%) | 10 (12.9) | 16 (17) | 0.465 |
| Mean (SD) days of follow up | 11.2 (6.2) | 14.7 (10.6) | 0.027 |
| Outcomes (%) Need of ICU Need of no invasive MV Need of invasive MV Extubation Discharge from ICU Hospital discharged Still in the hospital |
8 (10.3) 3 (3.9) - - 5 (6.5) 69 (89.6) 0 (0) |
26 (27.6) 1 (1) 13 (13.8) 9 (9.6) 21 (22.3) 77 (81.91) 0 (0) |
0.005 0.198 0.001 - - 0.156 - |
| Mortality (%) Global mortality Mortality in: Not candidates to ALS Candidates to ALS |
8 (10.3) 6 (60) 2 (3) |
17 (18) 12 (75) 5 (6.4) |
0.156 0.420 0.337 |
PCR, polymerase chain reaction. ADRS, adult distress respiratory syndrome. ICU, intensive care unit. ALS, advanced life support. MV, mechanical ventilation.
a
Measured in 110 patients; bMeasured in 168 patients: cMeasured in 86 patients; dSee material and methods for antivirals used in our protocol.