Lower Driving Pressure and Neuromuscular Blocker Use Are Associated With Decreased Mortality in Patients With COVID-19 ARDS

BACKGROUND: The impact of mechanical ventilation parameters and management on outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS is unclear.

METHODS: This multi-center observational study enrolled consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS admitted to one of 7 Korean ICUs between February 1, 2020–February 28, 2021. Patients who were age < 17 y or had missing ventilation parameters for the first 4 d of mechanical ventilation were excluded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify which strategies or ventilation parameters that were independently associated with ICU mortality.

RESULTS: Overall, 129 subjects (males, 60%) with a median (interquartile range) age of 69 (62–78) y were included. Neuromuscular blocker (NMB) use and prone positioning were applied to 76% and 16% of subjects, respectively. The ICU mortality rate was 37%. In the multivariate analysis, higher dynamic driving pressure (ΔP) values during the first 4 d of mechanical ventilation were associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.16 [95% CI 1.00–1.33], P = .046). NMB use was associated with decreased mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.27 [95% CI 0.09–0.81], P = .02). The median tidal volume values during the first 4 d of mechanical ventilation and the ICU mortality rate were significantly lower in the NMB group than in the no NMB group. However, subjects who received NMB for ≥ 6 d (vs < 6 d) had higher ICU mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with COVID-19 ARDS receiving mechanical ventilation, ΔP during the first 4 d of mechanical ventilation was independently associated with mortality. The short-term use of NMB facilitated lung-protective ventilation and was independently associated with decreased mortality.