Table 2 Evolution of organ failure, vital signs, and laboratory findings during ICU stay according to the use of corticosteroids. Early = in the first 48 h of ICU admission

n (%)

882

191 (21.7%)

485 (55.0%)

206 (23.3%)

Mechanical ventilation, n (%)

722/882 (81.9%)

139/191 (72.8%) ^a

395/485 (81.4%)

188/206 (91.3%)

Vasopressor use, n (%)

639/882 (72.4%)

126/191 (66.0%)

343/485 (70.7%)

170/206 (82.5%) ^c

Renal replacement therapy, n (%)

96/867 (11.1%)

14/183 (7.6%)

40/479 (8.3%)

42/205 (20.5%) ^c

SOFA maximum

8.6 (3.7)/729

8.2 (3.5)/132

8.2 (3.5)/426

9.7 (4.0)/171 ^c

Vital Signs

Temperature maximum, ºC

37.9 (1.0)/869

37.9 (1.0)/183

37.7 (1.0)/481 ^b

38.2 (1.0)/205

Mean arterial pressure minimum, mmHg

68.8 (13.0)/868

70.7 (13.4)/182

69.1 (13.0)/480

66.4 (12.3)/206 ^c

Heart rate maximum, bpm

105.6 (20.9)/868

103.9 (21.7)/182

104.6 (20.9)/480

109.5 (19.9)/206^c

SpO₂, minimum, %

78.6 (16.2)/869

80.3 (16.2)/184

79.4 (15.1)/480

75.3 (18.2)/205 ^c

Respiratory rate, maximum, bpm

30 (7.0)/859

31 (7.7)/177

30 (6.6)/477

32 (7.2)/205 ^c

Respiratory rate, minimum, bpm

17 (4.4)/859

19 (5.0)/177 ^a

17 (4.4)/477

16 (3.8)/205

Arterial blood gas

PaO₂/FiO₂ minimum

98.3 (47.9)/833

107.6 (56.9)/167^a

96.6 (43.5)/466

94.3 (48.5)/200

PaCO₂ maximum, mmHg

61.8 (19.3)/855

65.0 (21.2)/178

58.9 (18.0)/473 ^b

66.4 (19.3)/204

Laboratory findings

Ferritin maximum, ng/mL

2305 (2257)/667

1771 (1863)/104^a

2314 (2251)/389

2604 (2432)/174

D-Dimer maximum, ng/mL

5124 (2983)/809

4124 (2823)/158 ^a

5176 (3008)/452

5799 (2848)/199

CRP maximum, mg/dL

121 (138)/845

124 (140)/172

111 (128)/472

142 (154)/201 ^c

Lymphocytes minimum, mL

0.45 (0.34)/848

0.60 (0.41)/175 ^a

0.42 (0.31)/471

0.39 (0.29)/202

CRP/ lymphocyte ratio maximum

273 (447)/843

237 (382)/171

245 (389)/471

368 (590)/201 ^c

IL-6 maximum, pg/mL

957 (1787)/314

545 (1142)/22

933 (1803)/218

1148 (1884)/74

LDH maximum, U/L

648 (382)/828

566 (339)/162 ^a

659 (394)/467

686 (379)/199

Leukocytes maximum, 10³/mL

15.5 (10.0)/843

13.1 (7.7)/173 ^a

16.2 (10.5)/467

15.9 (10.3)/203

Procalcitonin maximum, ng/mL

4.1 (9.9)/756

3.4 (9.5)/143

3.1 (7.3)/434

7.1 (14.2)/179 ^c

Platelets maximum, 1000/mm³

387 (153)/852

390 (152)/176

377 (149)/473

405 (161)/203 ^c

Bilirubin, maximum, mg/dL

2.3 (3.7)/803

1.8 (2.2)/152 ^a

2.3 (3.4)/461

2.9 (4.8)/190

AST maximum, U/L

198 (372)/845

145 (274)/175 ^a

199 (346)/470

240 (483)/200

Creatinine maximum, mg/dL

1.8 (1.7)/851

1.8 (1.8)/175

1.7 (1.5)/473

2.2 (1.9)/203 ^c

Urea maximum, mg/dL

115 (161)/764

117 (316)/157

106 (69)/423

135 (106)/184 ^c

NTProBNP, maximum pg/mL

1996 (4815)/261

2573 (6712)/41

1684 (4693)/152 ^b

2344 (3590)/68

Haematocrit minimum, %

38.2 (6.0)/834

37.0 (6.4)/171

38.8 (5.8)/464 ^b

37.8 (5.7)/199

Lactate maximum, mmol/L

0.4 (0.8)/692

0.3 (0.5)/142

0.4 (0.7)/392

0.4 (1.2)/158