Table 3 Secondary outcomes in the MP group and DXM group

Day 5 PaO₂/FiO₂ratio; mean ± S.D.

355.6 ± 79.1

338.9 ± 82.9

0.474

 Hypoxemia PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio > 300

75%

64%

  PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio > 200–300

16.7%

32%

  PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio 100–200

8.3%

4%

0.478

Day 10 PaO₂/FiO₂ratio; mean ± S.D.

369.0 ± 77.7

388.6 ± 72.3

0.370

 Hypoxemia PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio > 300

75%

83.3%

 PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio > 200–300

25%

16.7%

0.477

Day 5 CRP(mg/L); median (IQR)

7.2 (5.4–17.8)

7.8 (5.5–24.3)

0.667

 Normalized CRP < 10 mg/dl

13 (54.2%)

13 (52%)

0.879

Day 10 CRP; median (IQR)

6 (2.9–13.7)

6 (3.4–18.0)

0.844

 Normalized CRP < 10 mg/dl

16 (66.7%)

14 (58.3%)

0.551

Day 5 LDH(IU/L); mean ± S.D.

264 ± 87.3

240.4 ± 95.7

0.368

Day 10 LDH; mean ± S.D.

254.9 ± 91.8

237.2 ± 82.0

0.484

Day 5 SOFA score; median (IQR)

1 (1-2.5)

1 (1–2)

0.883

Day 10 SOFA score; median (IQR)

1 (0.5-2)

0 (0–2)

0.103

Day 5 D-dimer(mcg/mL); median (IQR)

846.5 (470–2492)

1021 (474–1996)

0.976

Day 10 D-dimer; median (IQR)

1043 (594.5–1712)

1189 (576.5-3880.5)

0.446

Being alive with SaO₂ ≥ 96% room air

Day 14

16 (64%)

18 (72%)

0.544

Day 28

21 (84%)

21 (84%)

1.000

Being alive without mechanical ventilation

 Day 14

23 (92%)

23 (92%)

1.000

 Day 28

22 (88%)

22 (88%)

1.000

Being alive without hospitalization

 Day 14

16 (64%)

18 (72%)

0.544

 Day 28

21 (84%)

20 (80%)

1.000

Transfer to intensive care unit

3 (12%)

3 (12%)

1.000

Acute respiratory failure

2 (8%)

2 (8%)

1.000

Length of hospitalization (days)

 Excluded hospital death; median (IQR)

13 (10–18)

11 (9–13)

0.227

Hospital mortality

2 (8%)

2 (8%)

1.000

28-day mortality

3 (12%)

2 (8%)

1.000

90-day mortality

4 (16%)

3 (12%)

1.000