Table 3.
Participant demographics, baseline characteristics, and relevant medical history.
|
nVNS (n = 47) |
SoC (n = 50) |
Total (n = 97) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (SD),a y | 55.5 (13.9) | 61.3 (10.3) | 58.5 (12.5) |
| Gender, no. (%) | |||
| Female | 15 (31.9) | 12 (24.0) | 27 (27.8) |
| Male | 32 (68.1) | 38 (76.0) | 70 (72.2) |
| Smoker, no. (%) | 1 (2.1) | 1 (2.0) | 2 (2.1) |
| Drinking >2 cups/d, no. (%) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.0) | 2 (2.1) |
| Severity of COVID-19, no. (%) | |||
| Mildb, e | 24 (51.1) | 28 (56.0) | 52 (53.6) |
| Moderatec, e | 16 (34.0) | 20 (40.0) | 36 (37.1) |
| Severed, e | 7 (14.9) | 2 (4.0) | 9 (9.3) |
| Comorbidity, no. (%) | |||
| Arterial hypertension | 16 (34.0) | 25 (50.0) | 41 (42.3) |
| Ischemic heart disease | 2 (4.3) | 3 (6.0) | 5 (5.2) |
| Diabetes I/II | 10 (21.3) | 11 (22.0) | 21 (21.6) |
| Dyslipidemia | 22 (46.8) | 19 (38.0) | 41 (42.3) |
| Renal insufficiency | 3 (6.4) | 2 (4.0) | 5 (5.2) |
| Medications, no. (%) | |||
| Antibiotics (last 3 months) | 7 (14.9) | 7 (14.0) | 14 (14.4) |
| Antihypertensives | 17 (36.2) | 23 (46.0) | 40 (41.2) |
| Aspirin | 6 (12.8) | 9 (18.0) | 15 (15.5) |
| Corticosteroids | 7 (14.9) | 7 (14.0) | 14 (14.4) |
| Insulin | 5 (10.6) | 4 (8.0) | 9 (9.3) |
| Inhaler | 11 (23.4) | 7 (14.0) | 18 (18.6) |
| Oral hypoglycemic drugs | 10 (21.3) | 11 (22.0) | 21 (21.7) |
| Statins | 14 (29.8) | 18 (36.0) | 32 (33.0) |
COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; FiO2, inhaled oxygen fraction; nVNS, non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation; PaO2, partial blood pressure of oxygen; SoC, standard of care.
Age differed significantly between groups (p = 0.022).
Defined by a PaO2 between 200 and 300 and an FiO2 ≤ 3 needed to maintain 92% oxygen saturation.
Defined by a PaO2 between 100 and 200 and an FiO2 between 0.3 and 0.5 needed to maintain 92% oxygen saturation.
Defined by a PaO2 ≤ 100 and an FiO2 >0.5 needed to maintain 92% oxygen saturation.
Classifications were based on Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia adjudication of Spanish Ministry of Health guidance at the time of study initiation.