Noninvasive Ventilation for Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Due to COVID-19

Use of noninvasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is debated. The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges due to high patient volumes and worldwide resource strain.

To determine associations between use of noninvasive ventilation in adult patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, progression to intubation, and hospital mortality.

This retrospective cohort study included patients in an institutional COVID-19 registry. Adult patients were included if they were admitted for COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022, and developed moderate to severe ARDS. Primary outcomes were progression to intubation and hospital mortality in patients who received noninvasive ventilation or mechanical ventilation. A secondary outcome was successful treatment with noninvasive ventilation without intubation.

Of 823 patients who met inclusion criteria, 454 (55.2%) did not receive noninvasive ventilation and 369 (44.8%) received noninvasive ventilation. Patients receiving noninvasive ventilation were more likely to require mechanical ventilation than were patients not receiving noninvasive ventilation. Among patients requiring endotracheal intubation, those receiving noninvasive ventilation had a higher likelihood of mortality. Patients receiving noninvasive ventilation had lower severity-adjusted odds of survival to discharge without intubation than did patients not receiving noninvasive ventilation.

Patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia treated with noninvasive ventilation had increased likelihood of progression to endotracheal intubation and hospital mortality.