| No corticosteroids (n = 354) | Corticosteroids (n = 191) |
---|---|---|
Age, years | 64 (53–72) | 65 (57–72) |
Men | 256 (72.3) | 134 (70.2) |
BMI (Kg/m)* | 28.4 (25.4–33.0) | 29.6 (26.9–34.3) |
Severity scores | Â | Â |
 SAPS II†| 41 (32–54) | 43 (33–60) |
 SOFA Score‡ | 6 (3–8) | 7 (3–9) |
Comorbidity scores | ||
 MacCabe classification | ||
  Non-fatal | 296/336 (88.1) | 157/186 (85.3) |
  Fatal < 5 years | 36/336 (10.7) | 25/186 (13.6) |
  Fatal < 1 year | 4/336 (1.2) | 2/186 (1.1) |
 Charlson comorbidity index§ | 3 (1–4) | 3 (2–4) |
Chronic diseases | ||
 Diabetes mellitus | 109/353 (30.9) | 52/189 (27.5) |
 Chronic renal failure | 17/349 (4.9) | 15/187 (8.0) |
 Heart disease | 70/351 (19.9) | 30/187 (16.0) |
 Chronic heart failure | 13/350 (3.7) | 8/186 (4.3) |
 COPD | 19/350 (5.4) | 18/188 (9.6) |
 Chronic respiratory failure | 15/350 (4.3) | 5/186 (2.7) |
 Cirrhosis | 4/350 (1.1) | 4/187 (2.1) |
 Immunosuppression | 25/350 (7.1) | 27/187 (14.4) |
 Active smoking | 17/350 (4.9) | 11/188 (5.9) |
 Alcohol abuse | 23/349 (6.6) | 10/187 (5.3) |
Location before ICU admission | ||
 Home | 163/354 (46.0) | 95/191 (49.7) |
 Hospital ward | 136/354 (38.4) | 70/191 (36.6) |
 Another ICU | 55/354 (15.5) | 26/191 (13.6) |
Recent hospitalization (< 3 months) | 24/354 (6.8) | 18/189 (9.5) |
Recent antibiotics (< 3 months) | 45/354 (12.7) | 26/190 (13.7) |
Causes for ICU admission | ||
 Shock | 63/348 (18.1) | 39/187 (20.9) |
 Acute respiratory failure | 327/354 (92.4) | 172/190 (90.5) |
 ARDS | 244/352 (69.3) | 125/188 (66.5) |
 Neurological failure | 14/344 (4.1) | 12/182 (6.6) |
 Cardiac arrest | 2/343 (0.6) | 1/182 (0.5) |
 Acute renal failure | 58/344(16.9) | 37/182 (20.3) |