Table 2 Baseline characteristics of randomized patients (150 patients, divided into Groups A and B, to maintain blinding)
Group A | Group B | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
N = 78 | N = 72 | N = 150 | |
Age (years), mean (standard deviation) | 58.8 (17.0) | 61.2 (15.4) | 60.0 (16.3) |
APACHE II, mean (standard deviation) | 21.0 (8.4) | 22.7 (7.3) | 21.8 (7.9) |
Female, n (%) | 31 (39.7) | 31 (43.1) | 62 (41.3) |
Type of patient, n (%) | |||
Medical | 66 (84.6) | 60 (83.3) | 126 (84.0) |
Surgical | 3 (3.8) | 5 (6.9) | 8 (5.3) |
Trauma | 9 (11.5) | 7 (9.7) | 16 (10.7) |
Admitting diagnosis, n (%) | |||
Cardiovascular | 4 (5.1) | 4 (5.6) | 8 (5.3) |
Respiratory | 35 (44.9) | 26 (36.1) | 61 (40.7) |
Gastrointestinal | 2 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.3) |
Neurologic | 8 (10.3) | 10 (13.9) | 18 (12.0) |
Sepsis | 16 (20.5) | 17 (23.6) | 33 (22.0) |
Trauma | 7 (9.0) | 7 (9.7) | 14 (9.3) |
Metabolic | 2 (2.6) | 1 (1.4) | 3 (2.0) |
Hematologic | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.7) |
Renal | 1 (1.3) | 2 (2.8) | 3 (2.0) |
Other medical | 2 (2.6) | 4 (5.6) | 6 (4.0) |
Other surgical | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.4) | 1 (0.7) |