Characteristics of patients on admission in the PICU according to treatment group
| Dexamethasone (n=37) | Placebo (n=45) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLD=chronic lung disease; CHD=congenital heart disease; SIMV/PC=synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation, pressure controlled; PIP=positive inspiratory pressure; PEEP=positive end expiratory pressure. | |||
| *Prematurity was defined as a gestational duration of less than 36 weeks. | |||
| †One patient with cardiomyopathy, one patient with lung hypoplasia. | |||
| ‡Mother, father or sibling with asthma. | |||
| §Only in patients with SIMV/PC ventilation. | |||
| Male | 30 | 27 | 0.054 |
| Age (weeks) | 5.9 (0.9) | 9.8 (1.6) | 0.04 |
| Risk group | 12 | 17 | 0.65 |
| Premature* | 10 | 12 | 1.0 |
| CLD | 1 | 2 | 1.0 |
| CHD | 1 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Other† | 0 | 2 | 0.5 |
| Family history of asthma‡ | 9 | 11 | 1.0 |
| Duration of symptoms (days) | 3.3 (0.3) | 3.6 (0.3) | 1.0 |
| Apnoea | 5 | 9 | 0.55 |
| Wheezing | 16 | 21 | 0.83 |
| Admission weight (kg) | 4.1 (0.2) | 4.3 (0.2) | 0.32 |
| Median (IQR) PRISM score | 9 (7–12) | 10 (7–12) | 0.97 |
| SIMV/PC | 28 | 29 | 0.34 |
| Median (IQR) PIP (cm H2O)§ | 24 (20–26) | 24 (22–26) | 0.72 |
| Median (IQR) PEEP (cm H2O)§ | 4 (4–5) | 4 (4–5) | 0.70 |
| Pao2/Fio2 ratio (mm Hg) | 180 (9) | 173 (11) | 0.77 |
| Time elapsed between start mechanical ventilation and start trial medication (h) | 15 (1.2) | 14 (1.3) | 0.53 |