Table 1 Baseline characteristics by dose of dexamethasone
Characteristic | 12 mg of dexamethasone (n = 180) | 6 mg of dexamethasone (n = 177) |
|---|---|---|
Country of enrollment | ||
Denmark | 152 (84) | 148 (84) |
Sweden | 28 (16) | 29 (16) |
Age, median (IQR) years | 64 (57 to 74) | 66 (58 to 73) |
Sex | ||
Male | 121 (67) | 122 (69) |
Female | 59 (33) | 55 (31) |
Weight, median (IQR) kg | 90 (75 to 105) | 90 (78 to 103) |
Coexisting conditions | ||
Diabetes mellitus | 34 (19) | 53 (30) |
Ischemic heart disease or heart failure | 23 (13) | 23 (13) |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 20 (11) | 28 (16) |
Immunosuppressive therapy within 3 months prior to randomization | 13 (7.2) | 10 (5.6) |
Limitations of care (life support or CPR) | 14 (7.8) | 12 (6.8) |
Time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization, median (IQR), days | (n = 163), 7 (4 to 10) | (n = 166), 8 (5 to 10) |
Time from hospitalization to randomization, days | 2 (1 to 3) | 1 (1 to 3) |
Time from hospitalization to ICU admission, days | 1 (0 to 1) | 1 (0 to 1) |
Type of oxygen supplementation | ||
Nasal cannula or open mask | 99 (55) | 101 (57) |
Flow rate for nasal cannula and open mask, median (IQR) L/min | 25 (15 to 41) | 29 (17 to 45) |
Closed systems | 81 (45) | 76 (43) |
Non-invasive ventilation | 23 (13) | 24 (14) |
Continuous positive airway pressure | 1 (0.6) | 2 (1.1) |
Invasive ventilation | 57 (32) | 50 (28) |
PaO2/FiO2 for closed systems, median (IQR) | (n = 79), 17 (12 to 23) | (n = 76), 17 (11 to 22) |
Chronic use of medication | ||
Corticosteroids | 2 (1.1) | 12 (6.8) |
Antithrombotic medication | (n = 177), 51 (29) | (n = 172), 49 (28) |
Therapy during current admission | ||
Anti-inflammatory agents | 22 (12) | 23 (13) |
Janus Kinase inhibitor | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
IL-6 inhibitor | 20 (11) | 18 (10) |
Other | 3 (1.7) | 5 (2.8) |
Antiviral agents | 99 (55) | 94 (53) |
Remdesivir | 95 (53) | 92 (52) |
Convalescent plasma | 1 (0.6) | 2 (1.1) |
Other | 6 (3.3) | 2 (1.1) |
Antibacterial medication in the 24 h prior to randomization | 107 (59) | 116 (66) |
Vasopressor or inotrope for at least 1 h in the 24 h prior to randomization | 50 (28) | 36 (20) |
Renal replacement therapy in the last 72 h prior to randomization | 5 (2.8) | 2 (1.1) |
Initial dose of LMWHa | (n = 167) | (n = 168) |
High LMWH doseb | 33 (20) | 30 (18) |
Intermediate LMWH dosec | 86 (51) | 88 (52) |
Low LMWH dosed | 45 (27) | 48 (29) |
No prophylaxis | 3 (1.8) | 2 (1.2) |
Laboratory markers | ||
Plasma Lactatee, median (IQR) mmol/L | (n = 177), 1.8 (1.3 to 2.7) | 1.9 (1.4 to 2.5) |
Hemoglobinea, median (IQR) mmol/L | (n = 179), 8.1 (7.3 to 8.8) | (n = 176), 8.1 (7.2 to 8.7) |
Platelet counta, median (IQR) 10^9/L | (n = 172) 234.0 (187.5 to 308.0) | (n = 175) 229.0 (176.0 to 301.5) |
Prothrombin timea, median (IQR) INR | (n = 170), 1.1 (1.0 to 1.2) | (n = 169), 1.1 (1.0 to 1.2) |
Fibrin-D-dimera, median (IQR) mg FEU (< 0.2—> 12) mg/L | (n = 153), 1.1 (0.7 to 2.5) | (n = 152), 1.3 (0.9 to 2.1) |
CRPa, median (IQR) mg/L | (n = 175), 120 (81 to 170) | (n = 175), 128 (82 to 199) |