Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 206 patients by 60-day mortality outcome

Age

 Mean, year

69.8 [59–82]

77.4 [69–88]

p < 0.01

 Distribution, %

  < 70 years

44

29

–

  70–79 years

21

22

  ≥ 80 years

34

49

Sex, %

 Male

53

63

–

 Female

47

37

Race, %^¶

 White

64

54

–

 Minority: Asian

5

7

 Minority: Black

2

2

 Other/undisclosed

28

37

Admission diagnosis (%)

 COVID-19

84

85

–

 Other^± 

16

15

Median no. of days since symptom onset [IQR]*

7 [4–10]

6 [3–10]

–

Median no. of blood samples taken per patient [IQR]*

2 [1–4]

4 [2–6]

p < 0.05

No. of patients discharged prior to symptom day 15 (%)

89 (54%)

2 (4.8%)

–

No. of patients died prior to symptom day 15 (%)

–

14 (34%)

Sample type analysed for IL-18 parameters (%)

 Serum

89

91

–

 EDTA plasma

11

9

Artificial mechanical ventilation status at any point during admission

 Not ventilated

145 (88)

29 (71)

X² (1, N = 206)

= 9.10

p < 0.01

 Received artificial mechanical ventilation

20 (12)

12 (29)

Previous coexisting disease—no. (%)^‡

 Any of the below listed diseases

114 (69)

39 (95)

X² (1, N = 153)

= 32.5

p < 0.001

 Diabetes

37 (22.4)

11 (26.8)

–

 Hypertension

76 (46.0)

24 (58.5)

–

 Congestive cardiac failure

16 (9.7)

5 (12.2)

–

 Chronic kidney disease

59 (35.8)

23 (56.1)

X² (1, N = 82)

= 4.48

p < 0.05

 Chronic lung disease

20 (12.1)

7 (17.1)

–