Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants across study arms

Age, median [IQR], years

61 [48, 68]

62 [50, 72]

59.5 [46, 67]

Female sex, n(%)

3 (25)

1 (16)

2 (33)

White race, n(%)

11 (91)

6 (100)

5 (83)

BMI, median [IQR], kg/m²

32 [25, 36]

32 [26, 36]

32 [24, 36]

CCI, median [IQR]

2 (1, 5)

2 (1, 5)

2.5 (1, 5)

Tobacco Use, n(%)

9 (75)

4 (66)

5 (83)

SAPS II at ICU admission, median [IQR]

38 [33, 46]

38 [33, 45]

40 [33, 48]

SOFA at ICU admission, median [IQR]

8 (6, 9)

7 (6, 9)

8.5 (7, 10)

Etiology of ARDS, n(%)

COVID-19

7 (58.3)

4 (66.7)

3 (50.0)

Bacterial pneumonia

4 (33.3)

2 (33.3)

2 (33.3)

Extrapulmonary

1 (8.3)

0 (0)

1 (16.7)

Pre-intubation NIV and/or HFNC, n(%)

11 (91.7)

6 (100)

5 (83.3)

PaO2/FiO2 Ratio, median [IQR], mmHg

130 [112, 140]

117 [111, 143]

136 [125, 138]

MV duration before inclusion, median [IQR], days

0.6 [0.2, 2]

0.5 [0.2, 2]

1 [0.2, 1]

Vasopressor at baseline, n(%)

9 (75)

5 (83.3)

4 (66.7)

Sedation at baseline (RASS), median [IQR]

− 4 [− 3, − 4.5]

− 4 [− 3, − 5]

− 3.5 [− 3, − 4]

Baseline Ventilator Settings*, median [IQR]

Tidal Volume, ml/kg/PBW

6.0 [5.9, 6.3]

6.1 [5.7, 6.3]

6.0 [5.8, 6.3]

Respiratory rate, breaths/min

26 [20, 30]

26 [21, 30]

26 [20, 31]

PEEP, cmH₂O

15 (14, 16)

14 (14, 16)

16 (14, 16)

Cstat, ml/cmH₂O

36 [29, 40]

34 [28, 39]

36 [32, 42]

Ppeak, cmH₂O

27 [25, 31]

29 [27, 35]

25 [25, 27]

Pplat, cmH₂O

26 [25, 28]

27 [26, 28]

26 [25, 27]

Driving Pressure, cmH₂O

11 (10, 12)

12 (12, 14)

10 (10, 11)

Mechanical Power^†, J/min

20 [19, 28]

24 [20, 35]

19 [18, 22]

4ΔPxRR Index^§, J/min

70 [64, 83]

76 [68, 84]

70 [60, 73]

Non-Survivors, n(%)

6 (50)

3 (50)

3 (50)