Compared with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to treat acute respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia is tied to higher mortality, according to a new review.
The researchers examined data from 23 studies published between December 2019 and November 2020. These included 4,776 patients and contained data on in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with NIV or CPAP.
Forty-six percent of the patients (2,192) received non-invasive respiratory support. Of these, 48.4% received CPAP, 46% had NIV, and 4% had either CPAP or NIV. This support failed in 47.7% of patients, of whom 582 (26.5%) were intubated. Among the reasons for intubation were decreased level of consciousness, refractory hypoxemia, sepsis, and hemodynamic instability.
Source: Reuters Health