RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Combined Noninvasive Respiratory Support Therapies to Treat COVID-19 JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 1831 OP 1839 DO 10.4187/respcare.09162 VO 66 IS 12 A1 Colaianni-Alfonso, Nicolas A1 Montiel, Guillermo A1 Castro-Sayat, Mauro A1 Siroti, Catalina A1 Laura Vega, Maria A1 Toledo, Ada A1 Haedo, Santiago A1 Previgliano, Ignacio A1 Mazzinari, Guido A1 Miguel Alonso-Íñigo, José YR 2021 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/66/12/1831.abstract AB BACKGROUND: The roles of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and CPAP in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are controversial. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the application of a noninvasive respiratory support algorithm on clinical outcomes in subjects with COVID-19 and with acute respiratory failure.METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective observational study of subjects with respiratory failure from COVID-19 managed with HFNC and with CPAP plus HFNC (combined therapy). The main outcome was the intubation rate, which defined failure of therapy. We also analyzed the role of the ROX index ([ / ]/breathing frequency) to predict the need for intubation.RESULTS: From June to December 2020, 113 subjects with COVID-19 respiratory failure were admitted to our respiratory intermediate care unit. HFNC was applied in 65 subjects (57.52%) and combined therapy in 48 subjects (42.47%). A total of 83 subjects (73.45%) were successfully treated with noninvasive respiratory support. The intubation rate was 26.54%, and the overall mortality rate was 14.15%. The mortality rate in subjects who were intubated was 55.2%. An ROX index of 6.28 at 12 h predicted noninvasive respiratory support failure, with 97.6% sensitivity and 51.8% specificity.CONCLUSIONS: Data from our cohort managed in a respiratory intermediate care unit showed that combined noninvasive respiratory support was feasible, with favorable outcomes. Further prospective studies are required.