Table 1 Main features of the 119 patients based on ICU admission with or without VZV disease

Age (years), median [IQR]

66 [45–75]

45.5 [43.75–75.25]

66 [46.5–74]

0.96

Female sex at birth, n (%)

46 (38.7)

44 (40.7)

2 (18.2)

0.2

SOFA score

6 [2–9]

5.5 [2–9]

8 [4–10.5]

0.47

SAPS II score

40 [26–60.25]

40 [26–61]

40 [29.5–52]

0.87

Hypertension, n (%)

51 (42.9)

45 (41.7)

6 (54.5)

0.53

Liver cirrhosis, n (%)

10 (8.4)

8 (7.4)

2 (18.2)

0.23

Alcohol abuse, n (%)

18 (15.1)

14 (13)

4 (36.4)

0.06

Chronic kidney disease, n (%)

19 (16)

16 (14.8)

3 (27.3)

0.38

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, n (%)

18 (15.1)

16 (14.8)

2 (18.2)

0.67

Immunocompromised¹, n (%)

61 (51.3)

54 (50)

7 (63.6)

0.53

Solid tumour, n (%)

12 (10.1)

9 (8.3)

3 (27.3)

0.08

Haematologic malignancy, n (%)

23 (19.3)

23 (21.3)

0 (0)

0.12

Autoimmune disease, n (%)

18 (15.1)

17 (15.7)

1 (9.1)

1

Solid-organ transplant, n (%)

13 (10.9)

10 (9.3)

3 (27.3)

0.1

Corticosteroids, n (%)

27 (22.7)

24 (22.2)

3 (27.3)

0.71

Immunosuppressive drugs, n (%)

24 (20.2)

21 (19.4)

3 (27.3)

0.69

HIV, n (%)

4 (3.4)

3 (2.8)

1 (9.1)

0.33

Pregnancy, n (%)

4 (3.4)

3 (2.8)

1 (9.1)

0.33

Time between hospital presentation and ICU admission (days)

2 [0–5]

2 [0–5]

2 [0.5–20.5]

0.34

Time between first symptoms and ICU admission (days)

-4 [-7 – -2]

-4 [-7 – -2]

32.5 [22–54]

< 0.001

Main reason for ICU admission, n (%)

0.13

Neurologic

51 (42.9)

49 (45.4)

2 (18.2)

Respiratory

45 (37.8)

39 (36.1)

6 (54.5)

Circulatory

4 (3.4)

3 (2.8)

1 (9.1)

Multiple organ failure

10 (8.4)

10 (9.3)

0 (0)

Other

9 (7.6)

7 (6.5)

2 (18.2)

VZV-related organ injury, n (%)

VZV vesicular skin rash

89 (74.8)

81 (75)

8 (72.7)

1

Encephalitis

66 (55.5)

62 (57.4)

4 (36.4)

0.21

Pancreatitis

5 (4.2)

5 (4.6)

0 (0)

1

Hepatitis

11 (9.2)

9 (8.3)

2 (18.2)

0.27

Pneumonia

53 (44.5)

48 (44.4)

5 (45.5)

1

ARDS

26 (21.8)

23 (21.3)

3 (27.3)

0.7

Laboratory parameters on ICU admission

Lymphocyte count (/mm³)

845 [378.25–1670]

865 [372.75–1730]

700 [500–935]

0.39

Platelets (G/L)

156.5 [90–240.25]

147 [91–231]

261 [162–283]

0.08

CSF leucocyte count (/mm³)²

76 [15.5–223]

84.5 [16–262.25]

13 [7.5–44.5]

0.16

In-ICU management

Norepinephrine, n (%)

54 (45.4)

47 (43.5)

7 (63.6)

0.22

Invasive mechanical ventilation, n (%)

72 (60.5)

63 (58.3)

9 (81.8)

0.11

Duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, n (%)

10 [4.75–20]

9 [4–19]

23 [17–51]

0.003

Renal replacement therapy, n (%)

31 (26.3)

25 (23.4)

6 (54.5)

0.04

Antiviral therapy, n (%)

117 (98.3)

107 (99.1)

10 (90.9)

0.09

Other ICU-acquired infection, n (%)

44 (37)

37 (34.6)

7 (63.6)

0.1

Withholding or withdrawing of life sustaining therapy, n (%)

15 (12.6)

13 (12)

2 (18.2)

0.68

Prognosis

ICU mortality, n (%)

37 (31.1)

30 (27.8)

7 (63.6)

0.03

Hospital mortality, n (%)

43 (36.1)

35 (32.4)

8 (72.7)

0.02