Baseline and treatment characteristics and comparison by subgroups
| Variable | Total (n=112) | Group 1 (n=47) | Group 2 (n=65) | P value |
| Days from symptom onset to tocilizumab administration | 11 (9–13) | 8 (7–10) | 13 (12–16) | <0.001 |
| Days from onset of symptoms to admission | 7 (6–10) | 6 (5–7) | 9 (7–10) | <0.001 |
| Days from admission to administration of tocilizumab | 3 (2–5) | 2 (1–3) | 5 (2–7) | <0.001 |
| Age, years | 58 (48–85) | 56 (45–67) | 60 (49–64) | 0.777 |
| Men, n (%) | 83 (73.2) | 39 (83.0) | 43 (66.2) | 0.047 |
| Race, n (%) | ||||
| Caucasian | 76 (67.9) | 31 (66.0) | 45 (69.2) | 0.714 |
| Latin | 31 (27.7) | 15 (31.9) | 16 (24.6) | 0.394 |
| Afro-American | 3 (2.7) | 1 (2.1) | 2 (3.1) | 0.759 |
| Asian | 2 (1.8) | – | 2 (3.1) | 0.225 |
| Confirmed PCR for SARS-CoV-2, n (%) | 77 (68.8) | 34 (72.3) | 43 (66.1) | 0.586 |
| Active smoker, n (%) | 4 (3.6) | 2 (4.3) | 2 (3.1) | 0.74 |
| Presence of at least one comorbidity, n (%) | 51 (45.5) | 23 (48.9) | 28 (43.1) | 0.539 |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | ||||
| HT | 72 (64.3) | 21 (44.7) | 19 (29.2) | 0.092 |
| DM | 22 (19.7) | 10 (21.3) | 12 (18.5) | 0.711 |
| COPD | 7 (6.3) | 3 (6.4) | 4 (6.2) | 1 |
| CVD | 6 (5.4) | 2 (4.3) | 4 (6.2) | 1 |
| ESRD | 5 (4.5) | 2 (4.3) | 3 (4.6) | 1 |
| Asthma | 4 (3.6) | 2 (4.3) | 2 (3.1) | 1 |
| Active cancer | 4 (3.6) | – | 4 (6.2) | 0.138 |
| Corticosteroid treatment, n (%) | 76 (67.9) | 33 (70.2) | 43 (66.2) | 0.65 |
| Use of pulsed corticosteroids, n (%) | 65 (58.0) | 29 (61.7) | 36 (55.4) | 0.504 |
| Concomitant treatments, n (%) | ||||
| HCQ | 110 (98.2) | 46 (97.9) | 64 (98.5) | 1 |
| Ceftriaxone | 106 (94.6) | 43 (91.5) | 63 (96.9) | 0.236 |
| LPV/r | 106 (94.6) | 45 (95.7) | 61 (93.9) | 1 |
| Azithromycin | 105 (93.8) | 44 (93.6) | 61 (93.9) | 1 |
| β-interferon 1b | 8 (7.1) | 3 (6.4) | 5 (7.7) | 1 |
| Immunoglobulins | 3 (2.7) | 1 (2.1) | 2 (3.1) | 1 |
| No of tocilizumab doses, n (%) | ||||
| 1 | 78 (69.6) | 31 (66.0) | 47 (72.3) | 0.471 |
| 2 | 31 (27.7) | 15 (31.9) | 16 (24.6) | 0.394 |
| 3 | 3 (2.7) | 1 (2.1) | 2 (3.1) | 1 |
ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARBs, angiotensin receptor blockers; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; ESRD, end-stage renal disease; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; HT, hypertension; LPV/r, lopinavir/ritonavir; RI, renal insufficiency.