Table 1 Baseline characteristics of children admitted with severe pneumonia, Mulago Hospital
Variable | Zinc group N = 176 N (%) | Placebo group N = 176 N (%) |
|---|---|---|
   Sex: Female | 78 (44.3) | 76 (43.2) |
   Age in months 6 to 12 | 76 (43.2) | 68 (38.6) |
13 to 59 | 100 (56.8) | 108 (61.4) |
Mean age (SD) | 17.9 (12.2) | 18.1 (11.8) |
   Care taker: Mother | 152 (87.4) | 163 (94.2) |
Other | 22 (12.6) | 10 (31.3) |
   Distance: < 5 km | 65 (39.4) | 70 (41.7) |
≥5 km | 100 (60.6) | 98 (58.3) |
   Breastfeeding at six months Yes | 40 (80.0) | 39 (73.6) |
No | 10 (20.0) | 14 (26.4) |
   Measles vaccination: Yes | 103 (83.1) | 107 (80.5) |
No | 21 (16.9) | 26 (19.6) |
Inability to feed (%) | 25 (14.3) | 25 (14.2) |
Duration of cough in days (IQR) | 7.0 (4.0 to 14.0) | 7.0 (3.0 to 14.0) |
Oxygen saturation (IQR) | 95.0 (91.0 to 97.0) | 94.0 (90.0 to 98.0) |
Oxygen saturation at enrolment < 92% | 48 (27.7) | 54 (31.4) |
≥92% | 125 (72.3) | 118 (68.6) |
   Crepitations: Yes | 140 (80.0) | 147 (84.0) |
No | 35 (20.0) | 28 (16.0) |
   WHZ <-2SD | 30 (17.1) | 40 (22.9) |
≥-2SD | 146 (83.0) | 135 (77.1) |
   HAZ <-2SD | 46 (26.1) | 44 (25.1) |
≥-2SD | 130 (73.9) | 131 (74.9) |
   HIV Positive | 28 (17.8) | 27 (17.5) |
Negative | 129 (82.2) | 127 (82.5) |
   Malaria (n = 343): Positive | 18 (10.5) | 19 (11.0) |
Negative | 153 (89.5) | 153 (89.0) |
Blood culture: positive | 19(20.2) | 26(28.9) |
negative | 75(79.8) | 64(71.1) |
Zinc in μmol/L (IQR) | 4.4 (1.3 to 8.0) | 4.8 (2.3 to 10.4) |