Table 1.
Demographic clinical baseline characteristics of patients and outcome
| Control group (n = 77) | IFNβ‐1b group (n = 28) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male, % (n) | 53 (41) | 79.0 (22) | .02 |
| Age, years (IQR) | 77 (64–86) | 68.5 (49–75) | .01 |
| Hypertension, % (n) | 58 (45) | 64 (18) | .60 |
| Diabetes mellitus, % (n) | 29 (22) | 29 (8) | .99 |
| Coronary artery disease, % (n) | 13 (14) | 14 (4) | .86 |
| Chronic heart failure, % (n) | 1 (1) | 4 (1) | .50 |
| COPD, % (n) | 8 (6) | 7 (2) | .91 |
| CKD (GFR < 60), % (n) | 5 (4) | 0 | .57 |
| Liver cirrhosis, % (n) | 0 | 0 | |
| Tobacco smoker, % (n) | .51 | ||
| Active | 5 (4) | 0 (0) | |
| Never | 38 (29) | 39 (11) | |
| Former | 30 (23) | 39 (11) | |
| Unknown | 27 (21) | 21 (6) | |
| Use of ARBs or ACE inhibitors, % (n) | 39 (30) | 43 (12) | .72 |
| Obesity | 19.5 (15) | 11 (3) | .38 |
| CURB‐65 score at admission, % (n) | .51 | ||
| 0 | 16 (12) | 18 (5) | |
| 1 | 37 (28) | 50 (14) | |
| 2 | 33 (25) | 29 (8) | |
| 3 | 12 (9) | 4 (1) | |
| 4 | 3 (2) | 0 (0) | |
| Chest radiography, % (n) | .44 | ||
| Bilateral infiltrates | 79 (59) | 89 (24) | |
| Unilateral infiltrates | 19 (14) | 11 (3) | |
| Missing | 3 (2) | 0 (0) | |
| SatO2/FiO2, median (IQR) | 423 (310–435) | 421 (295–433) | .76 |
| SatO2, % (IQR) | 90 (85–92) | 89 (85–91) | .95 |
| ANC, cells/mm3, (IQR) | 4530 (3145 –6550) | 6165 (4742–7475) | .02 |
| LC, cells/mm3, (IQR) | 995 (600–1375) | 800 (8600–1032) | .01 |
| Platelets count, 109/L, (IQR) | 217 (171−266) | 201 (160–260) | .5 |
| d‐dimer, ng/ml (IQR) | 911 (487−1328) | 737 (475–1146) | .05 |
| LDH, mU/ml (IQR)a | 256 (205–319) | 328 (288–409) | .08 |
| Ferritin, ng/ml (IQR)a | 513 (278−1053) | 872 (427−1486) | .5 |
| C‐reactive protein, mg/L (IQR) | 73 (45−150) | 135 (103–216) | <.01 |
| Other treatment % (n) | |||
| Hydroxychloroquine | 95 (73) | 100 (28) | .57 |
| Azithromycin | 61 (54) | 36 (10) | .02 |
| Lopinavir/ritonavir | 70 (61) | 97 (27) | <.01 |
| Tocilizumab | 8 (6) | 11 (3) | .7 |
| Corticosteroids | 27 (21) | 39 (11) | .23 |
| Eight‐category scale at admission, % (n) | .70 | ||
| 1. Ambulatory, no limitation of activities | 0 | 0 | |
| 2. Ambulatory, limitation of activities | 0 | 0 | |
| 3. Hospitalized, no oxygen therapy | 0 | 0 | |
| 4. Hospitalized, oxygen therapy (FiO2 < 0.40) | 71 (55) | 75 (21) | |
| 5. Severe disease, NIMV (FiO2 > 0.40) | 29 (22) | 25 (7) | |
| 6. ICU and ventilation | 0 | 0 | |
| 7. Ventilation and additional organ support | 0 | 0 | |
| 8. Death | 0 | 0 | |
| Eight‐category scale at day 7, % (n) | .07 | ||
| 1. Ambulatory, no limitation of activities | 10 (8) | 7 (2) | |
| 2. Ambulatory, limitation of activities | 3 (2) | 0 | |
| 3. Hospitalized, no oxygen therapy | 9 (7) | 7 (2) | |
| 4. Hospitalized, oxygen therapy (FiO2 < 0.40) | 39 (30) | 47 (13) | |
| 5. Severe disease, NIMV (FiO2 > 0.40) | 10 (8) | 32 (9) | |
| 6. ICU and ventilation | 8 (6) | 7 (2) | |
| 7. Ventilation and additional organ support | 9 (7) | 0 | |
| 8. Death | 12 (9) | 0 | |
| Eight‐category scale at day 21, % (n) | .03 | ||
| 1. Ambulatory, no limitation of activities | 51 (39) | 71 (20) | |
| 2. Ambulatory, limitation of activities | 12 (9) | 18 (5) | |
| 3. Hospitalized, no oxygen therapy | 5 (4) | 0 (0) | |
| 4. Hospitalized, oxygen therapy (FiO2 < 0.40) | 5 (4) | 11 (3) | |
| 5. Severe disease, NIMV (FiO2 > 0.40) | 0 | 0 | |
| 6. ICU and ventilation | 0 | 0 | |
| 7. Ventilation and additional organ support | 1 (1) | 0 (0) | |
| 8. Death | 26 (20) | 0 (0) | |
| Time to IFN initiation from symptoms onset, days (IQR) | ‐ | 10 (9−13) | |
| Time on treatment with IFNβ‐1b, days (IQR) | ‐ | 8 (6–9) | |
| Clinical improvementb, % (n) | 73 (56) | 100 (28) | <.01 |
| Intensive care unit admission, % (n) | 19 (15) | 7 (2) | .3 |
| Deathc, % (n) | 27 (21) | 0 (0) | <.01 |
| Time to discharge, days (IQR) | 12 (9–16) | 17 (13–21) | .02 |
| Time to clinical improvement, days (IQR) | 12 (9−16) | 15 (12–21) | .02 |
Note: Continuous data are median IQR. p values were calculated using the χ2 or the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the t test for continuous variables.
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme; ANC, absolute neutrophils count; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; CKD, chronic kidney disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; GRF, glomerular filtration rate (mL min−1 per 1.73 m2 body surface area); ICU, intensive care unit; IFN, interferon; IQR, interquartile range; LC, lymphocytes count; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; NIMV, noninvasive mechanical ventilation; SatO2, oxygen saturation in room air.
LDH was calculated in a sample of 74 patients; ferritin was calculated in a sample of 58 patients.
Clinical improvement was defined as two points decreased in the WHO eight‐category scale or live discharge from the hospital whichever occurs first.
Patients who were admitted to the ICU and died are counted as both UCI admission and death.
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