Table 1 Characteristics of study patients compared to other patients

Age, years

47 [39–56]

49 [37–55]

0.994

Gender, male

20 (69%)

17 (61%)

0.514

Obstructive pulmonary disease

9 (31%)

8 (29%)

0.839

Chronic cardiac insufficiency

9 (31%)

4 (14%)

0.207

Ischemic cardiac disease

9 (31%)

0

1.000

Body mass index >35 kg/m²

11 (39%)

4 (15%)

0.070

SAPS II, points

24 [20-32]

29 [24–39]

0.016

SOFA at 24 h, score

3 [2-7]

6 [3–8]

0.042

SOFA maximum, score

7 [3–9]

6 [4–11]

0.493

Time from symptoms to hospital admission, hours

132 [54–188]

72 [36–168]

0.115

Time from hospital admission to ICU admission

19 [12–33]

19 [8–35]

0.792

CRP (mg/L) at ICU admission

73 [33–163]

57 [26–199]

0.965

PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg) at ICU admission

135 [101–261]

132 [110–299]

0.492

PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg), lowest

100 [76–134]

111 [79–269]

0.274

Number of infiltrated quadrants on X-ray at admission

4 [2–4]

2 [1–3]

0.025

ALI or ARDS

19 (66%)

16 (57%)

0.516

Corticosteroid treatment

19 (66%)

13 (46%)

0.2923

Ventilatory support

0.144

No

3 (10%)

6 (21%)

Non-invasive

13 (45%)

6 (21%)

Invasive

13 (45%)

16 (57%)

CPAP or PEEP (mmHg) at admission

7 [5–12]

7 [6–8]

0.485

Length of ventilatory support, days

4 [2–10]

4 [0–9]

0.485

ICU length of stay, days

5 [2–10]

3 [1–9]

0.389

Hospital length of stay, days

12 [7–16]

11 [5–25]

0.812

ICU mortality

1 (83%)

0

1.000

Hospital mortality

1 (3%)

2 (7%)

0.611