Sensitivity analyses
| Effect of treatment versus control Univariable analysis HR or coefficient (95% CI) | Effect of treatment versus control Multivariable analysis* HR or coefficient (95% CI) | |
| Primary outcome | ||
| Clinical improvement (2 points) in WHO score† | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | 1.63 (1.08 to 2.47) | 2.03 (1.25 to 3.31) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 2.53 (1.62 to 3.96) | 3.33 (1.94 to 5.73) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | 1.98 (1.28 to 3.08) | 2.44 (1.45 to 4.13) |
| Key secondary outcomes | ||
| Hospital mortality† | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | 0.34 (0.18 to 0.64) | 0.26 (0.13 to 0.54) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 0.36 (0.16 to 0.81) | 0.24 (0.10 to 0.62) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | 0.31 (0.15 to 0.66) | 0.33 (0.14 to 0.75) |
| Mechanical ventilation† | ||
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 0.11 (0.03 to 0.45) | 0.09 (0.02 to 0.41) |
| Excluding extreme age groups | 0.31 (0.15 to 0.66) | 0.25 (0.10 to 0.59) |
| Other secondary outcomes | ||
| Clinical improvement (1 point) in WHO score† | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | 1.78 (1.19 to 2.67) | 1.96 (1.22 to 3.12) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 2.95 (1.89 to 4.60) | 3.34 (1.97 to 5.66) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | 2.04 (1.33 to 3.13) | 2.44 (1.47 to 4.06) |
| Independence from oxygen therapy† | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | 1.51 (0.99 to 2.30) | 1.88 (1.15 to 3.08) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 2.39 (1.52 to 3.78) | 3.68 (2.09 to 6.48) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | 2.04 (1.29 to 3.22) | 2.71 (1.56 to 4.67) |
| Duration of mechanical ventilation in survivors§ | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | −3.71 (−14.70 to 7.28) | −6.20 (−37.81 to 25.41) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | 3.18 (−12.98 to 19.34) | −1.72 (−24.92 to 21.49) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | −4.25 (−14.34 to 5.84) | −9.14 (−25.92 to 7.64) |
| Duration of hospitalisation in survivors§ | ||
| Excluding ventilated patients at baseline | −5.56 (−9.29 to −1.83) | −6.73 (−10.86 to −2.59) |
| Excluding patients receiving TCZ | −6.59 (−11.25 to −1.93) | −8.25 (−13.72 to −2.78) |
| Excluding extreme age groups‡ | −5.80 (−10.23 to −1.37) | −7.42 (−12.60 to −2.24) |
*Adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arrhythmia.
†Results from Cox regression models, HR and 95% CI.
‡Excluding patients from the age category <50 and ≥80 years old.
§Results from linear regression models, regression coefficient and 95% CI.
TCZ, tocilizumab.