Table 3 Sedation variables in the intensive care unit during the first 48 h of admission, according to COVID status

Fentanyl

 n (%)

148 (78.7)

184 (90.6)

 < 0.01

 Cumulative dose (mcg)

1562 (509–4063)

5350 (3275–8050)

 < 0.01

Propofol

 n (%)

143 (76.1)

164 (80.8)

0.26

 Cumulative dose (mg)

2324 (1021–6443)

4047 (1227–8127)

0.02

Midazolam

 n (%)

36 (19.1)

114 (56.2)

 < 0.01

 Cumulative dose (mg)

4.0 (2.0–30.0)

31.5 (5.0–155.0)

 < 0.01

Dexmedetomidine

 n (%)

91 (48.4)

52 (25.6)

 < 0.01

 Cumulative dose (mcg/kg)

5.3 (2.2–15.4)

5.3 (1.6–13.1)

0.67

Lorazepam

 n (%)

17 (9.0)

21 (10.3)

0.66

 Cumulative dose (mg)

2.0 (1.5–11.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.5)

0.37

Hydromorphone

 n (%)

38 (20.2)

23 (11.3)

0.02

 Cumulative dose (mg)

4.5 (2.0–11.0)

71.0 (9.0–108.0)

 < 0.01

Oxycodone

 n (%)

28 (14.9)

18 (8.9)

0.07

 Cumulative dose (mg)

17.5 (10.0–37.5)

20.0 (10.0–35.0)

0.76

Morphine

 n (%)

1 (0.5)

7 (3.4)

0.04

 Cumulative dose (mg)

8.0 (NA)

3.5 (2.0–12.8)

0.86

Ketamine

 n (%)

16 (8.5)

32 (15.8)

0.03

 Cumulative dose (mg)

92.5 (50.0–350.0)

950.0 (234.0–2050.0)

 < 0.01

Haloperidol

 n (%)

14 (7.4)

8 (3.9)

0.13

 Cumulative dose (mg)

5.0 (5.0–11.3)

5.0 (5.0–8.8)

0.37

Quetiapine

 n (%)

5 (2.7)

11 (5.4)

0.17

 Cumulative dose (mg)

50.0 (37.5–300.0)

200.0 (25.0–250.0)

0.91

Gabapentin

 n (%)

13 (6.9)

9 (4.4)

0.29

 Cumulative dose (mg)

600.0 (300.0–2100.0)

800.0 (350.0–2100.0)

0.85

Neuromuscular blocker

 n (%)

4 (2.1)

84 (41.4)

 < 0.01

RASS level ICU day 1

 − 2 (− 3 to − 1)

 − 3 (− 4 to − 2)

 < 0.01

SAS level ICU day 1

3 (3–4)

2 (1–4)

 < 0.01

RASS level ICU day 2

 − 1 (− 2 to 0)

 − 3 (− 5 to − 2)

 < 0.01

SAS level ICU day 2

4 (3–4)

3 (1–3)

 < 0.01

RASS level ICU days 3–7

0 (− 2 to 0)

 − 3 (− 5 to − 2)

 < 0.01

SAS level ICU days 3–7

4 (3–4)

2 (1–3)

 < 0.01

Deep sedation ICU day 1, n (%)

73 (38.8)

118 (58.1)

 < 0.01

Deep sedation ICU day 2, n (%)*

43 (25.9)

117 (60.6)

 < 0.01

Deep sedation ICU days 3–7, n (%)**

25 (19.4)

109 (61.6)

 < 0.01

Deep sedation until death, n (%)

16 (8.5)

78 (38.4)

 < 0.01