Outcomes of bailout use of continuous positive airway pressure in patients with severe COVID-19 respiratory failure

During the first wave of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, due to an overflow of patients in the ICU, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was used as a last resort to mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate prognostic factors in COVID-19 severe respiratory failure patients treated with helmet CPAP. We reviewed the medical records of COVID-19 respiratory failure patients treated with H-CPAP at the Emergency Department from February 23rd to March 14th, 2020. A total of 202 (40%) patients admitted for respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia were considered. 129 (64%) patients received H-CPAP, while 73 (36%) required endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation despite initial H-CPAP. 99 patients (49%) died. The mortality rate in the IMV group was 37%, compared to 56% in the group that received only H-CPAP (p=0.004). The age and comorbidities of patients in the two groups differed significantly (p<0.001). Age and PaO2/FiO2 were identified as the only independent risk factors for death. Identifying these independent predictors of mortality in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency may help clinicians optimize treatment escalation.