Respiratory mechanics in late COVID-19 ARDS - a restrictive pattern is strongly associated with death. A cohort study

COVID-19 is associated with severe respiratory distress and high mortality. We investigated the evolution of the respiratory mechanics in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the occurrence of a restrictive respiratory pattern.

A retrospective, single-centre study including patients admitted to the ICU during the first wave of the pandemic (March-April 2020).

A total of 141 consecutive patients were included. Many patients developed a restrictive pattern of respiratory mechanics during the course of the disease. Fifty-two patients died in the hospital (36.8%). In 29 cases (58% of the deceased) death was associated with a pattern of pulmonary mechanics, indicating a restrictive evolution of ARDS. Other diagnoses related to death were pulmonary embolism (n = 7, 14%), septic shock (n = 17, 33%), and other causes (n = 10, 20%), with some patients combining at least 2 of these diagnoses. In a multivariate analysis, age (OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.12; P = 0.029) and the administration of steroid pulses (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1-6.8; P = 0.03) were associated with the development of a restrictive pulmonary pattern and a higher level of plasmatic interleukin-6.

COVID-19 ARDS is associated with high mortality associated with a specific pattern of respiratory mechanics and sustained activation of innate immunological response. Age and administration of high-dose steroid pulses are associated with this clinical picture.