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Table 2 Baseline patient and organization characteristics in the matched groups of no corticosteroid and low-dose corticosteroid

From: Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy for inpatients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Characteristic

No corticosteroid

Low-dose corticosteroids

 

n = 251

n = 251

p value

Patient Characteristics

Age, years

49.9

±21.6

49.6

±21.5

0.8753

Male

110

(43.8)

101

(40.2)

0.4695

Preexisting comorbid conditions

 Charlson comorbidity index

1.25

±1.3

1.08

±1.1

0.1921

 Congestive heart failure

30

(12.0)

30

(12.0)

1.0000

 Renal disease

5

(2.0)

3

(1.2)

0.7244

 Liver disease

6

(2.4)

5

(2.0)

1.0000

 Diabetes without chronic complications

27

(10.8)

25

(10.0)

0.8837

 Diabetes with chronic complications

8

(3.2)

6

(2.4)

0.7875

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

25

(10.0)

20

(8.0)

0.5324

 Bronchial asthma

103

(41.0)

96

(38.2)

0.5841

 Interstitial lung disease and fibrosis

12

(4.8)

16

(6.4)

0.5603

 Pleural effusion

12

(4.8)

13

(5.2)

1.0000

 Aspiration or drainage of pleural effusion

2

(0.8)

2

(0.8)

1.0000

Pneumonia characteristics

Parameters of the A-DROP

 Age (male ≥70 years, female ≥75 years)

61

(24.3)

57

(22.7)

0.7523

 Dehydration

40

(15.9)

35

(13.9)

0.6167

 Confusion

47

(18.7)

54

(21.5)

0.5043

 Respiratory failure

8

(3.2)

9

(3.6)

1.0000

 Low blood pressure

29

(11.6)

31

(12.4)

0.8907

Pneumonia severity

 Mild

137

(54.6)

135

(53.8)

0.9527

 Moderate

97

(38.6)

100

(39.8)

 

 Severe

13

(5.2)

11

(4.4)

 

 Extremely severe

4

(1.6)

5

(2.0)

 

Other treatments

Anti-mycoplasmal drug use

 Macroride

89

(35.5)

94

(37.5)

0.7107

 Quinolone

104

(41.4)

106

(42.2)

0.9279

 Tetracycline

68

(27.1)

75

(29.9)

0.5531

Other supportive drug use

 Catecholamine

4

(1.6)

4

(1.6)

1.0000

Interventions

 Invasive ventilation

5

(2.0)

4

(1.6)

1.0000

 Non-invasive ventilation

0

(0.0)

0

(0.0)

 

Organization characteristics

Intensive care unit admission

4

(1.6)

5

(2.0)

1.0000

Academic hospital

12

(4.8)

15

(6.0)

0.6931

Average number of patients in hospital per day

 ≤ 200

44

(17.5)

40

(15.9)

0.7962

 201–600

169

(67.3)

176

(70.1)

 

 ≥ 601

38

(15.1)

35

(13.9)

 
  1. Data are shown as n (%) or mean ± SD (standard deviation)