Though intriguing, the study findings are limited by the non-randomized retrospective nature of the findings, which resulted in baseline differences in multiple confounders that affect mortality, as well as the lack of a placebo group to compare outcomes.
After adjustment for baseline differences in disease severity and co-morbidities, these patients experienced a higher mortality and morbidity compared to controls that did not receive corticosteroids.
However, when adjusted for the baseline differences in multivariable analysis, the age of the oldest RBC unit was independently associated with hospital mortality only, but not with KDIGO stage 3 AKI or 90-day mortality.
Therefore, we sought to determine whether there were racial differences in processes of care, hospital LOS, or 30-day mortality for African-American and Caucasian VHA patients with CAP, after adjusting for baseline differences in patient characteristics.
A preliminary ANOVA revealed significant baseline differences in Confidence to Resist Gambling and Alcohol under placebo.
Also, in the absence of pharmacologic stimulation, no baseline difference in PCC rCBF was identified.
Because the effect became insignificant after adjustment, we believe that the observed differences in mortality were explained partially by baseline characteristics and sepsis interventions.
These differences in mortality persisted after adjustment for key baseline covariates.
No differences in mortality were found after accounting for differences in baseline patient characteristics that remained following propensity-score matching.
Log rank P values for differences in mortality were 0.003 by year of ART initiation, 0.293 by anemia status at baseline, and 0.299 by gender.
