Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of COVID-19 patients in early and late dexamethasone groups
| Characteristic | Late dexamethasone group (n=29) | Early dexamethasone group (n=30) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr | 70.07±13.87 | 65.53±14.39 | 0.138 |
| Female sex | 12 (41.4) | 10 (33.3) | 0.712 |
| Body mass index | 24.32±4.64 | 24.68±4.33 | 0.764 |
| Current smoker | 5 (17.2) | 2 (6.7) | 0.394 |
| Charlson comorbidity index | 4.34±2.06 | 3.50±2.35 | 0.147 |
| Underlying disease | |||
| Hypertension | 15 (51.7) | 15 (50.0) | >0.990 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 10 (34.5) | 9 (30.0) | 0.928 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 4 (13.8) | 5 (16.7) | 1.000 |
| Cardiovascular disease | 7 (24.1) | 4 (13.3) | 0.465 |
| Chronic lung disease | 5 (17.2) | 3 (10.0) | 0.666 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 2 (6.9) | 5 (16.7) | 0.449 |
| Chronic liver disease | 3 (10.3) | 3 (10.0) | >0.990 |
| Cancer | 5 (17.2) | 2 (6.7) | 0.394 |
| Symptoms | |||
| Abnormality in sense of smell and taste | 2 (6.9) | 2 (6.7) | >0.990 |
| Myalgia | 12 (41.4) | 10 (33.3) | 0.712 |
| Sore throat | 3 (10.3) | 6 (20.0) | 0.503 |
| Cough | 16 (55.2) | 13 (43.3) | 0.516 |
| Sputum | 12 (41.4) | 8 (26.7) | 0.358 |
| Chest discomfort | 1 (3.4) | 3 (10.0) | 0.629 |
| Dyspnea | 18 (62.1) | 15 (50.0) | 0.502 |
| Febrile or chilling sense | 14 (48.3) | 20 (66.7) | 0.244 |
| Rhinorrhea or nasal obstruction | 0 (0) | 1 (3.3) | >0.990 |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | 4 (13.8) | 3 (10.0) | 0.962 |
| No symptoms | 3 (10.3) | 2 (6.7) | 0.968 |
Values are presented as the mean±standard deviation or number (%).
COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019.