Table 1 Descriptive characteristics at the baseline, stratified by presence or not of anemia.

Age, mean (± SD)

57.1 (16.0)

60.2 (16.4)

 < 0.0001

Females, n (%)

372 (43.4)

312 (44.3)

0.74

Comorbidities, n (%)

 At least one comorbidity

339 (39.6)

416 (59.0)

 < 0.0001

 Hypertension

360 (42.0)

351 (49.8)

0.002

 Actual smoking

86 (10.0)

68 (9.7)

0.313

 Previous smoking

32 (3.7)

17 (2.4)

 Dyslipidemia

99 (11.6)

80 (11.3)

0.9

 Diabetes mellitus

161 (18.8)

176 (24.9)

 < 0.0001

 Renal failure

32 (3.7)

223 (10.1)

 < 0.0001

Clinical presentation, n (%)

 Dyspnea

373 (43.5)

21 (31.6)

 < 0.0001

 Anosmia

59 (6.9)

71 (3.0)

 < 0.0001

 Dysgeusia

117 (13.7)

177 (25.1)

 < 0.0001

 Fever

609 (71.1)

379 (53.8)

 < 0.0001

 Cough

318 (37.1)

253 (35.9)

0.610

 Gastrointestinal symptoms

179 (20.9)

238 (33.8)

 < 0.0001

 Oxygen saturation < 92% (%)

150 (17.5)

247 (35.0)

 < 0.0001

Laboratory parameters, n (%)

 Elevated Procalcitonin

148 (17.3)

253 (35.9)

 < 0.0001

 Elevated D-Dimer

501 (58.5)

446 (63.3)

0.011

 Elevated CRP

688 (80.3)

633 (89.8)

 < 0.0001

 Elevated Troponin

97 (11.3)

120 (17.0)

 < 0.0001

 Elevated Transaminases

132 (15.4)

107 (15.2)

0.99

 Elevated IL6

372 (43.4)

293 (41.6)

 < 0.0001

 Elevated Ferritine

294 (34.3)

331 (47.0)

 < 0.0001

 Elevated LDH

252 (29.4)

252 (35.7)

 < 0.0001

 Low platelets levels

122 (14.2)

96 (13.6)

0.725

Presence of pneumonia at the CT scan or chest X-ray, n (%)

803 (93.7)

675 (95.7)

0.074

Use of Venturi’s mask during hospitalization, n (%)

440 (51.3)

568 (80.6)

 < 0.0001

Use of high flow oxygen, n (%)

156 (18.2)

456 (64.7)

 < 0.0001