Early short course of neuromuscular blocking agents in patients with COVID-19 ARDS: a propensity score analysis

Table 6 Impact of NMBA treatment (defined by 2 days of continuous use of NMBAs within 48 h from commencement of mechanical ventilation) vs controls on 90-day in-hospital mortality

	Propensity score-matched cohort (N = 320)
90-day mortality from ICU admission	Control (N = 160)	NMBA treatment (N = 160)	Total (N = 320)
Survived	117 (73.1%)	112 (70.0%)	229 (72.6%)
Died	43 (26.9%)	48 (30.0%)	91 (28.4%)
Total	160	160	320

Prior to propensity score matching, neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) treatment, defined as 2 days of continuous use of NMBAs, within 48 h from commencement of invasive mechanical ventilation, was associated with 90-day mortality (unadjusted Cox regression; HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.22, 2.23, p = 0.001). After propensity score matching, 160 patients who received NMBA treatment were matched with 160 controls (using replacement). Using the propensity score-matched cohort and adjusting for covariates as per Table 4, NMBA therapy was not associated with 90-day mortality (adjusted HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.74, 1.78, p = 0.524)

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