Table 2.
Main characteristics of severe COVID-19 patients classified according to respiratory support at inclusion
| Invasive mechanical ventilation (n = 39) |
Non-invasive respiratory support (n = 34) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 59 ± 12 | 59 ± 14 |
| Gender (male), n (%) | 28 (72) | 23 (68) |
| BMI | 30 ± 5 | 30 ± 6 |
| Days from hospitalization (n) | 5 ± 4 | 5 ± 4 |
| Days from IRCU/ICU admission (n) | 4 ± 3 | 3 ± 3 |
| Pre-existing comorbidities (n, %) | ||
| Hypertension | 18 (46) | 15 (44) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 8 (21) | 9 (26) |
| Smoker | 7 (18) | 11 (32) |
| COPD | 2 (5) | 5 (15) |
| Respiratory support (n, %) | ||
| Mechanical ventilation | 39 (100%) | – |
| HFNC | – | 23 (68%) |
| NIV | – | 3 (9%) |
| Venturi mask | – | 8 (23%) |
| Sedative agents (n, %) | 39 (100) | 0 |
| NMBA (n, %) | 17 (44) | 0 |
| Vasopressor support (n, %) | 12 (29) | 0 |
| Temperature (°C) | 36.2 ± 0.9 | 36.3 ± 0.5 |
| HR (beats/min) | 74 ± 15 | 82 ± 16* |
| MAP (mmHg) | 83 ± 10 | 89 ± 13* |
| RR (resp/min) | 22 ± 4 | 21 ± 6 |
| FiO2 (%) | 53 ± 21 | 56 ± 20 |
| PaO2 (mmHg) | 82 ± 14 | – |
| PaCO2 (mmHg) | 45 ± 8 | – |
| pH | 7.38 ± 0.07 | – |
| SpO2 (%) | 96 ± 2 | 93 ± 5* |
| PF ratio | 174 ± 54 | – |
| SF ratio | 204 ± 64 | 200 ± 98 |
| Hb (g/dL) | 12.4 ± 2.0 | 13.7 ± 1.8* |
| D-Dimer (ng/mL) | 5528 ± 8833 | 7499 ± 20,109 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 1786 ± 918 | 1201 ± 993* |
| StO2 (%) | 67 ± 6 | 67 ± 6 |
| THC (μM/L) | 41 ± 13 | 44 ± 18 |
| DeO2 (%/min) | − 4.9 ± 1.8 | − 5.6 ± 2.1 |
| ReO2 (%/min) | 72 ± 36 | 83 ± 38 |
| Hyperemia AUC (U) | 8.2 ± 5.2 | 8.8 ± 4.8 |
BMI, body mass index; IRCU, Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit; ICU, Intensive Care Unit; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; HFNC, high-flow nasal cannula; NIV, non-invasive ventilation; NMBA, neuromuscular blocking agents; HR, heart rate; MAP, mean arterial pressure; RR, respiratory rate; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; PaO2, arterial partial pressure of oxygen; PaCO2, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide; SpO2, pulse-oximetric oxygen saturation; PF ratio, PaO2 to FiO2 ratio; SF ratio, SpO2 to FiO2 ratio; Hb, hemoglobin; StO2, tissue oxygen saturation; THC, tissue hemoglobin concentration; DeO2, deoxygenation rate; ReO2, reoxygenation rate; AUC, area under the curve
*p < 0.05