Table 3 Medication during palliative sedation for patients with- and without COVID-19.

Midazolam form, at start PS

Single Bolus

9 (36)

12 (25)

0.3

Continuous infusion only

3 (12)

3 (6)

0.4

Both bolus and continuous infusion

13 (52)

33 (69)

0.2

Midazolam initial doses

Start dose bolus (mg)

5.0 [2.5–10.0]

5.0 [2.5-5.0]

0.17

Start rate continuous infusion (mg/hr.)

1.5 [1.5–1.5]

1.0 [1.0-1.5]

0.06

Total initial dose (mg) in first hour of PS

5.0 [2.5–11.0]

5.0 [3.0-6.5]

0.4

Midazolam doses during the total PS period

Cumulative dose (in mg) during PS

(Mean (SD))

19.0 [12.2–49.8]

51.9 (91.7)

30.4 [13.9–64.1]

79.2 (163.2)

0.4

0.4

Recalculated hourly dose (in mg/hr)

(Mean (SD))

4.2 [3.7–5.8]

5.2 (3.7)

2.4 [1.4–3.7]

2.7 (1.7)

< 0.001

< 0.01

Morphine

Morphine prescribed at start PS, yes

23 (92)

43 (90)

1.0

Cumulative dose (in mg) day before start PS

21.2 [13.0–34.0]

15.0 [8.7–25.2]

0.2

Morphine during PS, yes

22 (88)

44 (91)

0.8

Recalculated hourly dose (mg/hr) during PS

2.1 [1.6–3.6]

2.0 [1.1–3.1]

0.5