Table 1 Baseline characteristics and severity of COVID-19 in the MP group and DXM group

Age (years); mean ± S.D.

75.4 ± 12.7

76.5 ± 14.1

0.770

Sex (female)

11 (44%)

13 (52%)

0.571

BMI (kg/M²); mean ± S.D.

25.9 ± 6.5

23.0 ± 6.0

0.106

 Obesity (BMI ≥ 30)

5 (20%)

3 (12%)

0.702

Hypertension

21 (84%)

21 (84%)

1.000

Diabetes mellitus

14 (56%)

16 (64%)

0.564

 HbA1C(mg%); mean ± S.D.

6.5 ± 1.8

6.4 ± 1.5

0.843

 Poorly controlled (HbA1C ≥ 9)

2 (8%)

1 (4.2%)

1.000

Chronic heart disease

7 (28%)

4 (16%)

0.306

Chronic lung disease

4 (16%)

9 (36%)

0.107

CKD stage 4–5 or ESRD

4 (16%)

2 (8%)

0.667

Old cerebrovascular accident

3 (12%)

1 (4%)

0.609

Status bedridden

3 (12%)

6 (24%)

0.463

COVID-19 vaccines (2 weeks apart)

 No vaccine

10 (40%)

6 (24%)

 1 dose

1 (4%)

2 (8%)

 2 doses

10 (40%)

13 (52%)

 3 doses

4 (16%)

4 (16%)

0.645

 Included mRNA vaccine

9 (36%)

8 (32%)

0.765

DOI (days); median (IQR)

3 (2–5)

3 (2–6)

0.687

Severity of COVID-19

Day 1 PaO₂/FiO₂ratio; mean ± S.D.

317.6 ± 34.1

326.4 ± 35.1

0.372

Day 1 SOFA score; median (IQR)

2 (1–3)

1 (1–2)

0.213

Day 1 CRP(mg/L); median (IQR)

 High CRP ≥ 50

33 (14.0-63.8)

9 (36%)

22.5 (6–63)

7 (28%)

0.734

0.544

Day 1 ALC(cells/mm3); median (IQR)

 Low ALC < 1000

1050 (800–1050)

12 (48%)

974 (614.5-1574.7)

13 (52%)

0.831

0.777

Day 1 LDH(IU/L); mean ± S.D.

275.3 ± 96.2

255.1 ± 104.8

0.480

Day 1 D-dimer(mcg/mL) ; median (IQR)

869 (483–1489)

1218 (573–1639)

0.222