Table 3 Main outcome variables and adjuvant therapies in the two study groups

Clinical outcome

 28-day mortality (n, %)

13 (21%)

15 (27%)

0. 634

 Ventilator-free days at day 28 (D)

14.0 (0.0, 23.0)

18.5 (0.0, 24.0)

0.764

 Length of ICU stay (D)

13.0 (7.0, 25.0)

10.0 (7.0, 14.8)

0.169

 ΔD1 SOFA score

0 (− 1, 1)

0.5 (− 1, 2.75)

0.021*

 ΔD2 SOFA score

− 1 (− 3.5, 0)

1 (− 2, 2)

< 0.0001*

 Successful extubation (n, %)

30 (49%)

31 (55%)

0.629

 Tracheostomy (n, %)

17 (28%)

11 (20%)

0.409

Adjuvant therapy

 Neuromuscular blocker (n, %)

12 (20%)

5 (9%)

0.166

 Prone position (n, %)

30 (49%)

23 (41%)

0.487

 Glucocorticoid therapy (n, %)

11 (18%)

6 (11%)

0.390