Respiratory technologists in the frontlines against COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Respiratory Care

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic strained global healthcare, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• Non-respiratory clinicians were redeployed to manage COVID-19 patients.
• Respiratory technologists at Universitas Academic Hospital (UAH) managed oxygen supportive care for severe COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of respiratory technologists in managing severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
• To describe patient characteristics and mortality when respiratory technologists provided oxygen support.
• To assess the contribution of respiratory technologists in a resource-limited South African hospital.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study design.
• Data extracted from hospital files of adult COVID-19 patients at UAH (January 1 - December 31, 2020).
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients with severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen support managed by respiratory technologists.

Main Results:

• 106 patients met inclusion criteria out of 781 admitted.
• Majority female (64.1%), median age 59.5 years.
• Common comorbidities: hypertension (65.1%), diabetes mellitus (36.8%).
• Median oxygen saturation on admission: 92%; median ROX index: 3.2.
• Median length of stay: 7 days; mortality rate: 41.5%.

Conclusions:

• Patient characteristics and mortality were comparable to studies from similar settings.
• Respiratory technologists are valuable in managing oxygen support during COVID-19 surges.
• Their role supplements overwhelmed clinical and nursing teams in resource-limited environments.