Table 3 Data course and outcomes

Oxygen delivery (L/min), median [IQR]

 Mean O₂ flow at D0

3.2 [2.3 to 4.5]

3.2 [2.3 to 4.3]

3.6 [2.6 to 4.9]

0.54

 Mean O₂ flow change at D2^a

− 0.9 [− 2.4 to − 0.1]

− 1 [− 2.4 to − 0.2]

− 0.6 [− 1.3 to 0]

0.53

Numeric Pain Scale values, median [IQR]

 Mean NPS at D0

4 [2.4 to 6]

3.9 [2 to 6]

4.2 [3.9 to 6.3]

0.23

 Mean NPS change at D2^a

− 1.7 [− 3.5 to − 0.6]

− 1.7 [− 3.6 to − 0.8]

− 1.3 [− 3.4 to 0.1]

0.33

Respiratory rate (/min), median [IQR]

 Respiratory rate at D0

24 [20 to 29]

23 [20 to 29]

27 [23 to 31]

0.16

 Respiratory rate change at D2^a

− 5 [− 7 to − 1.5]

− 5 [− 7 to − 0.5]

− 4 [− 6 to − 2.8]

0.70

Laboratory values, median [IQR]

 Haemoglobin at D0 (g/dL)

7.5 [6.9 to 8.5]

7.5 [6.9 to 8.7]

7.4 [6.5 to 7.8]

0.18

 Haemoglobin change at D2 (g/dL)^a

+ 0.2 [− 0.6 to 1.5]

+ 0.1 [− 0.6 to 0.6]

+ 0.9 [− 0.1 to 1.5]

0.03

 Platelets at D0 (G/L)

327 [298 to 403]

329 [264 to 403]

325 [294 to 434]

0.76

 Platelets change at D2 (G/L)^a

+ 18 [− 18 to 23]

+ 26 [0 to 74]

− 2 [− 34 to 38]

0.08

 LDH at D0 (UI/L)

544 [420 to 745]

503 [403 to 715]

613 [525 to 834]

0.09

 LDH change at D2 (UI/L)^a

− 47 [− 153 to − 7]

− 58 [− 145 to − 18]

− 24 [− 205 to 90]

0.44

 Bilirubin at D0 (µmol/L)

47 [33 to 79]

55 [38 to 79]

36 [29 to 44]

0.06

 Bilirubin change at D2 (µmol/L)^a

− 12 [− 29 to − 6]

− 15 [− 35 to − 6]

− 9 [− 12 to − 3]

0.10

SOFA score (points), median [IQR]

 SOFA score at D0

4 [3 to 4]

3 [3 to 4]

4 [3 to 4]

0.30

 SOFA score change at D2^a

− 1 [− 1 to 0]

− 1 [− 1 to − 1]

− 0.5 [− 1 to 0]

0.09

Lung ultrasound data, median [IQR]

 LU score at D0

24 [20 to 28]

25 [20 to 28]

22.5 [18 to 26]

0.17

 LU score change at D2^a

− 5 [− 11 to 1]

− 7 [− 12 to − 5]

+ 2 [− 2.5 to 5]

< 0.001

 LU re-aeration score between D2 and D0^a

5 [− 3 to 10.5]

7.5 [4.5 to 15]

− 3 [− 6.5 to 1.8]

< 0.001

Inspiratory vital capacity (mL), median [IQR]

 Inspiratory vital capacity at D0

1000 [600 to 1250]

1000 [600 to 1300]

750 [500 to 1100]

0.12

 Inspiratory vital capacity change at D2^a

+ 250 [25 to 500]

+ 500 [150 to 600]

+ 250 [0 to 250]

0.01

Empirical antimicrobial therapy, % (n)

98% (55)

98% (41)

100% (14)

0.56

Microbiologically documented pneumonia, % (n)

20% (11)

21% (9)

14% (2)

0.71

Transfusion, % (n) or median [IQR]

 Transfusion

57% (32)

45% (19)

93% (13)

0.005

 Total number of RBC units

1 [0 to 2]

0 [0 to 2]

2 [2 to 3]

< 0.001

Mechanical ventilation, % (n)

 Non-invasive

2% (1)

0% (0)

7% (1)

0.02

 Invasive

2% (1)

0% (0)

7% (1)

Length-of-stay (days), median [IQR]

 ICU

5 [4 to 6]

4 [4 to 5]

7 [7 to 8]

–

 Hospital

8 [6 to 11.3]

7 [5 to 9]

13 [10.3 to 14]

< 0.001

Death, % (n)

0% (0)

0% (0)

0% (0)

–