Table 2.
Characteristics of corticosteroid use
| Variablesa | Corticosteroid treatment (N = 3592) |
|---|---|
| Administered drug, n (%) | |
| Dexamethasone | 2045 (60) |
| Methylprednisolone | 1882 (56) |
| Hydrocortisone | 287 (8) |
| Prednisone | 38 (1) |
| Prednisolone | 12 (0.4) |
| Betamethasone | 5 (0.1) |
| Fludrocortisone | 1 (0.03) |
| Days from initial symptoms to corticosteroid administration, median (Q1; Q3) | 9 (6; 13) |
| < 7 days, n (%) | 896 (27) |
| Days from ICU admission to corticosteroid administration, median (Q1; Q3) | 0 (− 2; 1) |
| Before ICU admission (< 0 h), n (%) | 1307 (39) |
| Day 0–1 of ICU admission (0–48 h), n (%) | 1275 (38) |
| Since day 1 of ICU admission (≥ 48 h), n (%) | 741 (22) |
| Cumulative dose | |
| Length of treatment, median (Q1; Q3), days | 10 (6; 12) |
| Prevalence of long-term use (≥ 10 days), n (%) | 1914 (58) |
| Discontinuation before mechanical ventilation termination | 1475 (60) |
| Requirement of reintubationb | 76 (9) |
| Total dose, median (Q1; Q3), mg/dayc | 15 (6; 30) |
| Prevalence of high dose (≥ 12 mg/day), n (%)c | 1899 (61) |
| Total dose, median (Q1; Q3), mg/kg/dayd | 1 (0.45; 2.04) |
ICU intensive care unit, Q1 first quartile, Q3 third quartile. Percentages calculated on non-missing data
aAdministered drug was assessed in 3388 patients; days from initial symptoms to corticosteroid administration in 3317 patients; days from ICU admission to corticosteroid administration in 3323 patients; length of treatment in 3283 patients; total equivalent dexamethasone dose in 3098 patients; total equivalent methylprednisolone dose in 2898 patients
bPatients that returned to invasive mechanical ventilation after discontinuation of corticosteroids treatment
cEquivalent dexamethasone dose
dEquivalent methylprednisolone dose