Table 1

Preadmission comorbidities and types admission of the study cohort


Control group (n = 7,626)
Corticosteroid exposure group (n = 2,632)
P

Age (years)
72 (48–84)
67 (43–82)
0.0001
Female
2,860 (38)
1,147 (44)
0.0001
Body mass index (kg/m2)
26 (20–35)
26 (20–35)
0.8
Peripheral arterial disease
777 (10)
221 (8)
0.008
Cerebral vascular disease
159 (2)
23 (1)
0.0001
Neurological disease (degenerative brain disease)
1,048 (14)
396 (15)
0.1
Congestive heart failure
974 (13)
361 (14)
0.2
Hypertension
3,687 (48)
995 (38)
0.0001
Diabetes mellitus
1,359 (18)
436 (17)
0.1
Liver disease
636 (8)
351 (13)
0.0001
Malignancy
1,179 (15)
685 (26)
0.0001
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
870 (11)
565 (21)
0.0001
Pulmonary disease (restrictive and obstructive)
1,025 (13)
663 (25)
0.0001
Renal disease
577 (8)
223 (8)
0.9
Connective tissue disease
88 (1)
197 (7)
0.0001
Cachexia
157 (2)
126 (5)
0.0001
Charlson comorbidity score
1 (0–4)
2 (0–5)
0.0001
Indications for corticosteroids



     Relative adrenal insufficiency
-
1,022 (39)
-
     Anti-inflammatory action
-
1,270 (48)
-
     Immunosuppression
-
340 (13)
-
Types of admission



     Coronary care unit
1,561 (20)
211 (8)
0.0001
     Medical
2,623 (34)
1,168 (44)
0.0001
     Surgical
3,442 (46)
1,253 (48)
0.1

Data presented as median (10–90% percentiles) or actual numbers (percentage).

Rady et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R101   doi:10.1186/cc4971