Table 5. Baseline characteristics in the North arm versus the South arm.
IQR = Interquartile range; n/a = non-applicable
| Characteristic | South N=133 | North N=645 | p-value |
| Age | |||
| Median – years (IQR) | 55 (46-63) | 50 (40-61) | <0.0001 |
| > 55 yr – no. (%) | 67 (50.4%) | 238 (36.9%) | 0.003 |
| Sex – no. (%) | 0.001 | ||
| Female | 35 (26.3%) | 279 (43.3%) | |
| Male | 98 (73.7%) | 366 (56.7%) | |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Body mass index over 30 kg/m2 – no. (%) | 15 (11.3%) | 53 (8.2%) | 0.24 |
| Hypertension – no. (%) | 40 (30.1%) | 175 (27.1%) | 0.52 |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus – no. (%) | 18 (13.5%) | 79 (12.2%) | 0.27 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder – no. (%) | 2 (1.5%) | 16 (2.5%) | 0.75 |
| Chronic kidney disease – no. (%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | n/a |
| Coexisting conditions – no. (%) | |||
| 0 | 74 (55.6%) | 431 (66.8%) | 0.026 |
| 1 | 34 (25.6%) | 124 (19.2%) | 0.091 |
| 2+ | 25 (18.8%) | 90 (14.0%) | 0.15 |
| Median time from hospitalization to randomization (IQR) – days | 1.0 (1.0-3.0) | 2.0 (1.0-4.0) | <0.0001 |
| Score on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 ordinal scale – no. (%) | |||
| 4. Hospitalized, not requiring supplemental oxygen, requiring ongoing medical care (COVID-19 related or otherwise) | 6 (4.5%) | 20 (3.1%) | 0.41 |
| 5. Hospitalized, requiring supplemental oxygen | 56 (42.1%) | 196 (30.4%) | 0.006 |
| 6. Hospitalized, receiving non-invasive ventilation or high flow oxygen devices | 71 (53.4%) | 429 (66.5%) | 0.01 |
| Concomitant medications – no. (%) | |||
| Cephalosporins (Cefuroxime, Ceftriaxone, Cefepime) | 118 (88.7%) | 638 (98.9%) | 0.0005 |
| Colchicine | 69 (51.9%) | 407 (63.1%) | 0.027 |
| Macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin) | 61 (45.9%) | 631 (97.8%) | <0.0001 |
| Glucocorticosteroids (dexamethasone, methylprednisolone) | 133 (100.0%) | 645 (100.0%) | 1.00 |
| Enoxaparin | 122 (91.7%) | 645 (100.0%) | 0.0009 |
| Omeprazole | 133 (100.0%) | 645 (100.0%) | 1.00 |