• Hazard ratio (HR) 0.71 for hospital related mortality (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56–0.89)
• Treatment was more effective in patients with C-reactive protein (CRP) >15 mg/dL
• HR 0.48 (95% CI 0.30–0.77) than those with CRP <15 mg/dL HR 0.92 (95% CI 0.57–1.48)