Table 2 Baseline characteristics stratified by PCT-group
Parameter | Control group (n = 398) | PCT group (n = 379) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Demographics | Â | Â | Â |
 Age [years] mean (SD) | 69.8 (11.6) | 69.1 (11.3) | 0.38 |
 Male gender, n (%) | 257 (64.6) | 253 (66.8) | 0.52 |
Diagnosis, n (%) | Â | Â | Â |
 Pneumonia (CAP, VAP) | 39 (9.8) | 38 (10.0) | 0.42 |
 Lower and upper ARI | 118 (29.6) | 94 (24.8) |  |
 AECOPD | 26 (6.5) | 22 (5.8) |  |
 Sepsis/septic shock | 215 (54.0) | 225 (59.4) |  |
Laboratory assessment | Â | Â | Â |
 PCT day 0 [µg/L], mean (SD) | 10.7 (29.9) | 11.6 (49.4) | 0.78 |
 PCT cut-offs, n (%) |  |  |  |
 PCT < 0.1 [µg/L] | 37 (10.4) | 46 (13.6) | 0.14 |
 PCT 0.1–0.25 [µg/L] | 72 (20.3) | 45 (13.3) |  |
 PCT > 0.25–0.5 [µg/L] | 35 (9.9) | 38 (11.2) |  |
 PCT > 0.5 -2.0 [µg/L] | 57 (16.1) | 56 (16.5) |  |
 PCT > 2.0–10’000 [µg/L] | 154 (43.4) | 154 (45.4) |  |
 CRP day 0 [µg/L], mean (SD) | 157.5 (114.2) | 187.4 (274.2) | 0.06 |
 Creatinine day 0 [µg/L], mean (SD) | 127.7 (110.9) | 142.3 (124.0) | 0.12 |
Vital signs | Â | Â | Â |
Temperature [°C], mean (SD) | 37.8 (1.1) | 37.8 (1.0) | 0.28 |
Setting, n (%) | Â | Â | Â |
 Emergency Department | 178 (44.7) | 151 (39.8) | 0.17 |
 ICU | 220 (55.3) | 228 (60.2) |  |
Sepsis score | Â | Â | Â |
 SOFA score [points], mean (SD) | 9.1 (3.8) | 8.5 (3.9) | 0.22 |
Additional support | Â | Â | Â |
 Vassopressor use, n (%) | 173 (80.5) | 191 (84.5) | 0.26 |
 Ventilation support, n (%) | 157 (73.4) | 167 (73.6) | 0.96 |
 Renal replacement, n (%) | 52 (13.1) | 52 (13.7) | 0.79 |
Comorbidities, n (%) | Â | Â | Â |
 Liver failure | 47 (12.5) | 40 (11.2) | 0.57 |
 Congestive heart failure | 90 (24.5) | 88 (25.1) | 0.85 |
 Central nervous system | 34 (9.6) | 29 (8.5) | 0.62 |
 End-stage renal disease | 96 (26.2) | 77 (21.9) | 0.18 |
 Peripheral artery disease | 27 (8.2) | 31 (10.0) | 0.42 |
 Hypertension | 55 (70) | 46 (62) | 0.33 |
 Diabetes mellitus | 76 (20.8) | 74 (21.1) | 0.9 |
 Immunosupression | 8 (4.6) | 8 (4.3) | 0.86 |