TABLE 2.

Primary outcomes

	Baseline	Time from dexmedetomidine administration
		2 h	4 h	6 h	8 h	10 h	12 h
Heart rate (bpm)	74 ± 14	63 ± 17**	59 ± 13***	59 ± 14***	58 ± 12***	60 ± 15***	60 ± 14**
Mean arterial pressure (mmHg)	85 ± 13	89 ± 12	91 ± 13	90 ± 15	88 ± 11	88 ± 12	88 ± 14
Norepinephrine (mcg/kg/min)	0 (0–0.00)	0 (0–0.02)	0 (0–0.02)	0 (0–0.01)	0 (0–0.01)	0 (0–0.01)	0 (0–0.02)
PaO2/FiO2‐ratio	17 ± 6	19 ± 6	21 ± 7**	21 ± 5***	20 ± 6**	20 ± 6	20 ± 6*
Respiratory rate (1/min)	22 ± 6	21 ± 7	20 ± 8	19 ± 6	19 ± 6	19 ± 5	18 ± 5
RASS	0 (−3–0)	−1 (−4–0)	−1 (−4–0)	−3 (−4–0)*	−3 (−4–0)**	−3 (−4–0)**	−3 (−4–0)**

Data are shown as mean and standard deviation or as median and interquartile range.

Bpm, beats per minute; PaO₂/FiO₂, ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen; RASS, richmond agitation and sedation score.

^* p < 0.05

^** p < 0.01

^*** p < 0.001 compared to baseline.