Epistaxis in COVID positive ICU patients, implications, and future interventions

Epistaxis in critically ill patients may prevent the use of non-invasive ventilation and impair nasal oxygen delivery. Since the onset of COVID-19, high-flow nasal oxygen has dramatically increased. There is a paucity of literature on characteristics of epistaxis in critically ill, COVID-19 positive patients. We aimed to establish the incidence of epistaxis and identify risk factors.

This was a retrospective observational study conducted at a large academic medical center. Chart review was performed on patients with an intensive care admission and COVID-19 diagnosis between January 2020 and May 2022. Data included epistaxis events, supplemental oxygen delivery and duration, anticoagulation, and antiplatelet therapies.

932 patients met study criteria. Epistaxis incidence was 7.4 %. Of those with epistaxis, 78 % were administered supplemental oxygen. For each additional day on nasal oxygen, patients were at a 7.1 % higher risk for epistaxis (p < .001). Most antiplatelet agents and therapeutic anticoagulation were not found to increase risk.

Nasal oxygen was a major risk factor for epistaxis in this population. Nasal hygiene is a standard regimen recommended by otolaryngologists for epistaxis. Protocolizing the inclusion of nasal hygiene measures may be an easy, inexpensive way to prevent epistaxis in this already unstable patient population.