Table 2 Patients’ baseline characteristics

Age, years

64 (10.4)

63.2 (11.4)

0.82

Male sex

17 (81%)

20 (83.3%)

1

Body mass index

28.6 (3.5)

28 (5.5)

0.68

Obesity

7 (33.3%)

6 (25%)

0.54

Sepsis-related Organ-Failure Assessment score

5.5 (2.7)

5.9 (2.7)

0.64

Mean arterial pressure, mm Hg

91.3 (18.3)

81.5 (16.9)

0.07

On vasopressors

5 (23.8%)

14 (58.3%)

0.02

Comorbidities

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

0 (0%)

1/15 (6.7%)

1

 Active smoking

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0.24

 Chronic heart failure

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

 Atrial fibrillation

2/15 (13.3%)

0 (0%)

0.21

 Hypertension

11/15 (73.3%)

10/15 (66.7%)

0.47

 Coronary artery disease

2/15 (13.3%)

2/15 (13.3%)

1

 Stroke

2/15 (13.3%)

1/15 (6.7%)

0.59

 Immunodeficiency

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

 Active neoplasia

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

Chronic corticosteroid intake

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

Immunomodulatory drugs

2/17 (11.8%)

0 (0%)

0.2

Respiratory characteristics

 Ventilatory support (NIV and/or HFNO)

10 (47.6%)

4 (16.7%)

0.02

 Invasive mechanical ventilation

11 (52.4%)

20 (83.3%)

0.02

 Tidal volume, mL/kg PBW

6.2 (0.7, n = 11)

6.3 (0.8, n = 20)

0.72

 Plateau airway pressure, cm H₂O

21.8 (4.2, n = 10)

24.8 (5.1, n = 17)

0.12

 PEEP

10.8 (2.9, n = 11)

11.2 (3.2, n = 20)

0.72

 Driving pressure

11.3 (4.3, n = 10)

13.2 (3.9, n = 17)

0.25

 Compliance, mL/cm H₂O

45.2 (27.8, n = 10)

35.2 (14.9, n = 17)

0.29

 SpO_2, %

94.6 (3.4)

96.0 (3.0, n = 23)

0.16

 PaO₂/FiO_2, mm Hg

156.2 (68.2)

171.2 (72.9)

0.53

 Lung injury score

3.0 (0.7)

2.8 (0.5)

0.61

 PaCO₂, mm Hg

40 (8.5)

43.2 (9.8)

0.17

 pH

7.41 (0.1)

7.37 (0.1)

0.27

 Neuromuscular blocking agents

6 (28.6%)

16 (66.7%)

0.01

Ventilation mode

 Volume control

11/11 (100%)

19/20 (95%)

1

 Pressure control

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1

 Pressure support

0 (0%)

1/20 (5%)

1