Table 1 Patients’ characteristics and outcome

Demographic characteristics

 Age, mean ± SD, yr.

52.5 ± 13.1

51.8 ± 15.8

53.1 ± 11.7

52.3 ± 17.6

 Female, n (%)

33 (61.1 %)

38 (65.5 %)

47 (64.4 %)

24 (61.5 %)

Type of AID, n (%)

 SLE

30 (55.6 %)

29 (50 %)

44 (60.3 %)

15 (38.5 %)^b

 Systemic vasculitis

5 (9.3 %)

7 (12.1 %)

7 (9.6 %)

5 (12.8 %)

 Dermatomyositis

3 (5.6 %)

10 (17.2 %)^a

4 (5.5 %)

9 (23.1 %)^a

 pSS

4 (7.4 %)

4 (6.9 %)

6 (8.2 %)

2 (5.1 %)

 RA

3 (5.6 %)

2 (3.4 %)

3 (4.1 %)

2 (5.1 %)

 SSc

3 (5.6 %)

2 (3.4 %)

3 (4.1 %)

2 (5.1 %)

 MCTD

3 (5.6 %)

2 (3.4 %)

3 (4.1 %)

2 (5.1 %)

 Others

3 (5.6 %)

2 (3.4 %)

3 (4.1 %)

2 (5.1 %)

Comorbid conditions, n (%)

 Heart function grade > 3 (NYHA)

4 (7,4 %)

6 (10.3 %)

3 (4.1 %)

7 (17.9 %)^a

 Chronic renal insufficiency (CKD stage > 3)

5 (9.3 %)

6 (10.3 %)

4 (5.5 %)

7 (17.9 %)^a

Prior hospitalization, days, median (range)

3.3 (1–38)

3.0 (1–33)

3.2 (1–35)

2.9 (1–38)

The treatment before ICU admission

 The median equivalent prednisone dose, mg/d

43.2 ± 22.4

41.4 ± 25.2

40.2 ± 25.7

44.4 ± 21.5

 Immunosuppressants, n (%)

11 (20.4 %)

13 (22.4 %)

18 (24.7 %)

6 (15.4 %)^b

 High dose steroid, n (%)

6 (19.4 %)

9 (31.0 %)^b

5 (6.8 %)

10 (25.6 %)^a

 Antibiotic therapy, n (%)

44 (81.4 %)

50 (86.2 %)

61 (83.6 %)

33 (84.6 %)

Reasons for ICU admission, n (%)

 Acute respiratory failure

24 (44.4 %)

24 (41.4 %)

26 (35.6 %)

22 (56.4 %)^b

 Acute kidney failure

1 (1.9 %)

5 (8.6 %)^a

5 (6.8 %)

1 (2.6 %)

 Conscious disturbance

3 (5.6 %)

8 (13.8 %)^a

4 (5.5 %)

7 (17.9 %)^a

 Hypopressure of any reasons

10 (14.8 %)

8 (13.8 %)

14 (19.2 %)

4 (10.3 %)^b

 The coexistence of hypotension and respiratory failure

16 (29.6 %)

13 (22.4 %)

16 (21.9 %)

13 (33.3 %)^b

Characteristics on admission

 Body temperature, °C

38.2 ± 0.5

38.3 ± 0.7

38.3 ± 0.6

38.3 ± 0.3

 Leucocytes, cells/mm³

10,300 ± 7200

10,100 ± 5600

10,100 ± 6400

10,200 ± 7600

 Granulocyte, %

88.5 ± 18.9

88.1 ± 21.5

88.2 ± 15.1

87.9 ± 13.6

 Neutropenia, n (%)

4 (7.4 %)

4 (6.9 %)

5 (6.8 %)

3 (7.7 %)

 Serum creatinine, μmol/l

106.7 ± 28.1

108.2 ± 35.5

102.5 ± 35.5

110.5 ± 23.7

 SOFA score, points

6.8 ± 3.1

6.2 ± 3.5

5.4 ± 2.2

8.9 ± 2.1^a

Organ support, n (%)

 mechanical ventilation

48 (88.9 %)

51 (87.9 %)

60 (82.2 %)

39 (100 %)^b

 renal replacement therapy

8 (14.8 %)

10 (17.2 %)

7 (11.0 %)

11 (28.2 %)^a

 vasopressor

26 (48.1 %)

29 (50.0 %)

30 (41.1 %)

25 (64.1 %)^a

ICU new acquired severe sepsis, n (%)

18 (33.3 %)

23 (39.7 %)

21 (28.8 %)

20 (51,3 %)^a

Duration of shock, days, median (range)

6.5 (3–15)

6.9 (2–14)

3.8 (2–10)

7.5 (7–15)^a

ICU stay, days, median (range)

13.1 (8–31)

13.6 (7–33)

12.5 (8–29)

13.9 (7–33)

Appropriate treatment of the primary cause, n (%)

28 (51.8 %)

26 (44.8 %)

42 (57.5 %)

12 (30.8 %)^a

28-day ICU mortality, n (%)

18 (33.3 %)

21 (36.2 %)

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