Table 3 Baseline characteristics and outcomes of the patients

Age, years

56.60 ± 4.08

60.16 ± 1.89

0.300^**

Lung injury score

2.94 ± 0.07

2.86 ± 0.09

0.667^**

SAPS II

46.26 ± 4.14

47.13 ± 1.80

0.999^**

Onset of ARDS, days

0.90 ± 0.13

0.98 ± 0.31

0.700^**

Days receiving mechanical ventilation

1.80 ± 1.26

2.13 ± 1.78

0.667^**

Change in PaO₂ / FiO₂ ^*

93.66 ± 40.12

42.66 ± 4.04

0.050^**

SMD: 0.29 (0.09 – 0.49)^¶

0.320

0.004

Change in PaCO₂ ^*, mmHg

8.76 ± 27.1

10.66 ± 23.80

0.150^**

SMD: 0.02 (-0.17 – 0.21) ^¶

0.520

0.800

Change in PEEP^*, cmH₂O

- 2.20 ± 1.90

- 0.46 ± 0.56

0.050^**

SMD: -0.18 (-0.37 – 0.01) ^¶

0.430

0.060

Change in V_T ^*, mL/kg

0.28 ± 0.33

0.30 ± 0.11

0.150^**

SMD: -0.02 (-0.21 – 0.17) ^¶

0.300

0.850

Change in FiO₂ ^*, %

- 25.40 ± 7.91

- 13.10 ± 7.39

0.050^**

SMD: -0.31 (-0.50 – -0.12) ^¶

0.260

0.002

Change in Plateau Pressure^*, cmH₂O

- 3.66 ± 1.49

- 0.70 ± 0.60

0.050^**

SMD: -0.11 (-0.30 – 0.08) ^¶

0.040

0.250

Ventilator-free days at day 28, days

6.76 ± 3.51

5.20 ± 3.40

SMD: 0.22 (0.03 – 0.41)

0.860

0.020

Barotrauma, n (%)

9 (4.0)

20 (9.6)

RR: 0.45 (0.22 – 0.92)

0.830

0.030

Critical illness neuromyopathy, n (%)

41 (18.3)

29 (13.9)

RR: 1.13 (0.76 – 1.66)

0.990

0.550

ICU mortality, n (%)

70 (31.4)

93 (44.7)

RR: 0.71 (0.55 – 0.90)

0.620

0.005

Mortality at day 28 after inclusion, n (%)

52 (23.3)

71 (34.1)

RR: 0.68 (0.51 – 0.92)

0.580

0.010