Table 2. Characteristics of the Cohort Population.
* p-values for comparison of cases vs randomly selected controls by the t-test for normally distributed variables (age, BMI, and hemoglobin) and the chi-square test for categorical variables
** p-value by the Mann-Whitney test
*** p-value by Fisher’s exact test
SD - standard deviation; BMI - body mass index; CRP - C-reactive protien; BUN - blood urea nitrogen; NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; MV - mechanical ventilation
| Variables | All Patients N=1007 | Cases N=76 | Controls N=152 | P-Value* (Case vs Control) |
| Age-Year; Mean ± SD | 63 ± 18 | 67 ± 16) | 65 ± 16 | 0.29 |
| Sex- N (%) | 0.39 | |||
| Male | 565 (56%) | 41 (54%) | 91 (60%) | |
| Female | 442 (44%) | 35 (46%) | 61 (40%) | |
| Ethnicities- N (%) | 0.31 | |||
| White | 599 (59%) | 46 (61%) | 103 (68%) | |
| Black | 202 (20%) | 13 (19%) | 30 (20%) | |
| Hispanic | 37 (4%) | 3 (4%) | 4 (2.6%) | |
| Asian | 57 (6%) | 3 (4%) | 6 (4%) | |
| Unknown/Unreported | 112 (11%) | 11 (14%) | 9 (6%) | |
| BMI- Kg/m2; Mean ± SD | 29.9 ± 8.3 | 29.4 ± 8.7 | 29.7 ± 7.6 | 0.83 |
| Comorbidities - N (%) | ||||
| Diabetes Mellitus | 290 (29%) | 25 (33%) | 48 (31%) | 0.84 |
| Coronary Artery Disease | 180 (18%) | 14 (18%) | 29 (19%) | 0.91 |
| End-Stage Renal Disease | 33 (3%) | 1 (1%) | 8 (5%) | 0.28*** |
| Current or Ex-Smoker | 246 (24%) | 20 (26%) | 27 (18%) | 0.14 |
| Chronic Anemia | 136 (14%) | 40 (53%) | 17 (11%) | <0.001 |
| Laboratory Values on Admission; Mean±SD or Median (Interquartile Range) | ||||
| Hemoglobin at Presentation | 12.6 ± 3.1 | 10.1 ± 2.2 | 12.6 ± 2.4 | <0.001 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 367 (146 - 816) | 393 (177 - 1016) | 356 (154 - 731) | 0.23** |
| CRP (mg/L) | 74 (27 – 143) | 171 (90 - 432) | 67 (31 - 129) | 0.14** |
| D-Dimer (mg/L) | 1.06 (0.58 – 2.04) | 2.10 (1.17 – 10.16) | 1.10 (0.69 – 2.09) | 0.003** |
| White Blood Cells (K/ulu) | 6.90 (4.80 – 9.60) | 7.80 (4.30-10.85) | 6.50 (4.80-8.55) | 0.27** |
| Highest BUN | 31 (18 -59) | 40 (20 - 61) | 28 (18 - 71) | 0.58** |
| Treatment - N (%) | ||||
| Corticosteroid | 468 (46%) | 31 (41%) | 64 (42.1%) | 0.85 |
| Aspirin or NSAIDs | 150 (15%) | 7 (10%) | 25 (16%) | 0.12 |
| Therapeutic Anti-Coagulants | 96 (9.5%) | 16 (21%) | 9 (6%) | 0.001 |
| Red Blood Cell Transfusion | 205 (20%) | 64 (84%) | 10 (15%) | <0.001 |
| Required MV | 128 (13%) | 18 (24%) | 14 (9%) | 0.004 |
| Days of MV in Those With MV; Median (IQR) | 5 (2 - 11) | 11.5 (4.5 – 15.3) | 5.5 (1.7 – 12.7) | 0.21** |
| Outcome | ||||
| Mortality; N (%) | 163 (16.2%) | 15 (20%) | 25 (16%) | 0.66 |
| 28 Hospital Free Days; Median (IQR) | 19 (0 - 24) | 5 (0 - 19) | 19 (0 - 23) | <0.001** |
| Required ICU care; N (%) | 270 (27%) | 28 (37%) | 32 (21%) | 0.02 |
| 28 ICU Free Days in those requiring ICU care; Median (IQR) | 10 (0 - 23) | 10 (0 – 22) | 5.5 (0 - 22) | 0.83 |