Table 1 Characteristics of Patients and Main Results

Baseline characteristics

No (%)

14 (50)

14 (50)

Age, median (IQR)

66 (56–72)

66 (57–69)

Sex, No (%)

Women

1 (7.1)

5 (35.7)

Men

13 (92.9)

9 (64.3)

BMI, median (IQR)

27.5 (24.2–30.0)

28.3 (27.5–31.1)

Current smokers, No (%)

1 (7)

0 (0)

Arterial hypertension, No (%)

7 (50)

9 (64)

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, No (%)

1 (7)

4 (29)

SOFA score, median (IQR)

3 (3–3)

3 (2–3)

Disease course, median (IQR)

Days from diagnosis of infection

11.5(8–14)

9.5 (8–12)

Days from hospital admission

3.5 (2–7)

3.5 (2–6)

Days from respiratory support

2.5 (1–5)

2 (1–4)

Ventilatory settings

HCPAP, No (%)

11 (79)

11 (79)

HFNC, No (%)

3 (21)

3 (21)

FiO₂, median (IQR)

0.5 (0.5–0.6)

0.5 (0.5–0.5)

PEEP (if HCPAP), median (IQR)

10 (10–12)

10 (10–12)

Flow (if HFNC), median (IQR)

40 (35–40)

35 (35–40)

Starting decubitus, no (%)

2 (14)

6 (43)

6 (43)

4 (29)

5 (36)

5 (36)

Respiratory variables, median (IQR)

PaO₂, mmHg

82.2 (73.2–101)

120 (108–149)*

139 (108–184)*

96 (67–117)

92 (74–120)

102 (68.5–125)*

PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio

152 (133–177)

224 (186–248)*

278 (198–336)*

192 (160–224)

186 (165–230)

204 (150–246)

PaCO₂, mmHg

38 (35.9–39)

39.1 (38–43)*

37.8 (37–41)*

38.3 (34.1–40)

40.5 (35.8–42)*

39.8 (36–41)

Arterial pH

7.45 (7.44 -7.46)

7.43 (7.43 -7.45)*

7.44 (7.44 -7.46)

7.46 (7.44 -7.47)

7.45 (7.42 -7.47)*

7.44 (7.43 -7.46)

Respiratory rate, bpm

19 (17–22)

17 (15–18)*

19 (16–23)*

21.5 (18–24)

19 (16–22)*

18.5 (16–21)

Subjective variables

Borg dyspnea scale, median (IQR)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–1)

Discomfort, no (%)

2 (14.3)

1 (7.1)

8 (57.1)*

0 (0)

0 (0)

5 (35.7)*

Hemodynamics, median (IQR)

Cardiac index, L/min/m^{2 a}

3 (3–3.2)

3.1 (3–3.3)

3.3 (3.3–3.5)*

2.8 (2.5–3.5)

2.9 (2.4–3.1)

3.1 (3–3.4)*

Stroke volume index, mL/m^{2 a}

41 (39–42)

47 (38–48)*

46 (40–52)

39 (33–45)

50 (37–55)*

40 (37–51)

Pulse pressure, mmHg

51 (42–58)

55 (47–60)*

54 (48–70)

55 (46–78)

69 (53–90)*

71 (56- 81)

Heart rate, bpm

70 (69–77)

64 (60–71)*

68 (60–77)*

75 (67–86)

70 (60–76)*

76 (69–82)*