Timing, method and discontinuation of hydrocortisone administration for septic shock patients

Table 1 Univariate analysis of demographic, clinical characteristics and outcomes of the study population according to method of administration of hydrocortisone

Characteristics	Continuous infusion (n = 32)	IV bolus (n = 32)	P value
Age, median (IQR)	50 (37-64)	61 (39-70)	0.19
Male gender, n (%)	12 (37.5)	14 (51.9)	0.27
Oncologic disease, n (%)	15 (46.9)	10 (37)	0.45
Surgical patients, n (%)	25 (78.1)	17 (63)	0.2
Infection source, n (%)
Pneumonia	13 (40.6)	13 (48.1)	0.56
Ventilator associated	7 (21.8)	6 (22.2)	0.87
Health care associated	3 (9.3)	4 (12.5)	0.66
Community acquired	3 (9.3)	3 (11.1)	0.52
Abdomen	14 (43.7)	10 (37)	0.6
Soft tissue	4 (12.5)	1 (3.7)	0.23
Urinary tract	1 (3.1)	2 (7.4)	0.45
Other	0 (0)	1 (3.7)	0.27
Diabetes, n (%)	8 (25)	4 (14.8)	0.33
Acute kidney injury, n (%)	14 (43.7)	17 (63)	0.14
Baseline creatinine, mg/dL, median (IQR)	0.8 (0.7-1.4)	1.1 (0.7-1.5)	0.32
ARDS, n (%)	10 (31.2)	11 (40.7)	0.45
APACHE II score (SD)	21 ± 6	21.7 ± 5.6	0.76
SOFA score (SD)	10 ± 2.9	11 ± 2.7	0.16
Vasopressin use, n (%)	12 (37.5)	4 (14.8)	0.5
Maximum NE dose (mcg/kg per minute), median (IQR)	0.25 (0.17-0.36)	0.33 (0.20-0.39)	0.55
Hydrocortisone dose (mg/kg per day), median (IQR)	2.63 ± 0.27	2.75 ± 0.31	0.13
NE to hydrocortisone (h), median (IQR)	8 (4-19.5)	14 (8-31.5)	0.01
Time to shock reversal (h), median (IQR)	59 (47.5-90.5)	108 (63.2-189)	0.001
Shock relapse, n (%)	4 (18.2)	7 (38.9)	0.14
Hydrocortisone tapered, n (%)	10 (41.7)	13 (68.4)	0.08
Diuretic use, n (%)	19 (59.4)	11 (40.7)	0.15
New onset hypernatremia, n (%)	17 (53.1)	18 (66.7)	0.29
New onset hypokalemia, n (%)	12 (37.5)	18 (66.7)	0.02
New onset hyperglycemia, n (%)	19 (59.4)	23 (85.2)	0.03
Superinfection, n (%)	3 (9.4)	5 (18.5)	0.31
Wound dehiscence, n (%)	3 (9.4)	2 (7.4)	0.78
UGIB, n (%)	1 (3.1)	0 (0)	0.35
ICU-AW, n (%)	8 (25)	9 (33.3)	0.48
Vasopressor-free days, median (IQR)	3 (2-5)	2 (0-3.7)	0.12
ICU LOS, median (IQR)	8.5 (6-13)	9 (5-13)	0.81
30-d mortality, n (%)	10 (31.2)	15 (55.6)	0.06

APACHE II: Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; ICU-AW: Intensive care unit acquired weakness; ICU LOS: Intensive care unit length of stay; IQR: Interquartile range; NE: Norepinephrine; SOFA: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment; UGIB: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding.