Comparison of COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Tracheostomised Patients: Complications, Survival, and Mortality Risk Factors

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of tracheostomised COVID-19 patients with non-COVID-19 tracheostomised patients to identify factors influencing severity and mortality. Methods: A retrospective, single-centre cohort study was conducted on COVID-19 tracheostomised patients admitted from May 2020 to February 2022, compared with a cohort of non-COVID-19 tracheostomised patients. Results: COVID-19 tracheostomised patients had a higher mortality rate (50% vs. 27.3% in non-COVID-19 patients). Mortality risk factors in COVID-19 tracheostomised patients included female sex (HR 1.99, CI 1.09-3.61, p = 0.025), ischemic heart disease (HR 5.71, CI 1.59-20.53, p = 0.008), elevated pre-tracheostomy values of PEEP (HR 1.06, CI 1.01-1.11, p = 0.017) and INR (HR 1.04, CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.004), and ventilatory complications (HR 8.63, CI 1.09-68.26, p = 0.041). No significant differences in complication rates were found based on Sars-CoV-2 infection or tracheostomy type. Conclusions: Tracheostomy technique did not impact complications, discharge circumstances, or mortality, supporting the safety of bedside percutaneous tracheostomies for COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 tracheostomised patients exhibited a higher mortality rate.