Steroid use in PROWESS severe sepsis patients treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated)

Table 1 Baseline disease severity measures for patients treated versus not treated with steroids

Characteristic/parameter	Steroids^a	No steroids	P value
Age (years; mean ± SD [n])
Overall	62 ± 15.9 (586)	60 ± 17.3 (1104)	0.024^b
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	62 ± 16.1 (291)	60 ± 17.7 (559)	0.126^b
Placebo	62 ± 15.7 (295)	60 ± 16.8 (545)	0.098^b
APACHE II (mean ± SD [n])
Overall	26.4 ± 7.6 (586)	23.9 ± 7.6 (1104)	<0.001^b
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	26.6 ± 7.7 (291)	23.5 ± 7.4 (559)	<0.001^b
Placebo	26.2 ± 7.5 (295)	24.3 ± 7.9 (545)	<0.001^b
Number of organ dysfunctions (mean ± SD [n])
Overall	2.5 ± 1.1 (586)	2.3 ± 1.1 (1104)	0.018^b
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	2.5 ± 1.1 (291)	2.3 ± 1.1 (559)	0.020^b
Placebo	2.5 ± 1.1 (295)	2.4 ± 1.1 (545)	0.301^b
Baseline shock^d (% [n])
Overall	74% (432)	70% (768)	0.073^c
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	75% (217)	68% (381)	0.521^c
Placebo	73% (215)	71% (387)	0.565^c
Baseline vasopressor (% [n])
Overall	64% (374)	62% (683)	0.429^c
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	62% (179)	60% (337)	0.728^c
Placebo	66% (195)	63% (346)	0.450^c
Baseline ventilator (% [n])
Overall	80% (471)	73% (804)	<0.001^c
Drotrecogin alfa (activated)	79% (230)	70% (393)	0.006^c
Placebo	82% (241)	75% (411)	0.037^c

^aPatients receiving steroids at baseline or infusion were classified as receiving steroids. ^bBy analysis of variance. ^cBy Pearson's χ² test. ^dBaseline shock was shock at any time within 6 hours prior to drotrecogin alfa (activated) or placebo infusion. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation.

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