Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 3:S1201-9712(21)00305-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.087. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: In a conventional hospital ward, we used high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) to treat elderly COVID-19 patients non eligible for intensive care unit transfer.
METHODS: This study was conducted in the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), France. We used high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) in our conventional infectious disease ward from 15 September 2020 for elderly patients non eligible for intensive care unit transfer.
RESULTS: Of the 44 patients (median age 83 years (57-94), mean: 80.25), 61.4% (27/44) were men. The median Charlson score was 7 (1-15). The median of the NEWS-2 score upon admission was 8 (3-11) and was 10 at the time of initiation of HFNO. The median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 103 (71-151) prior to HNFO initiation. Among the 44 patients, 16 patients (36.4%) had been weaned from HFNO, and 28 patients had died (63.6%).
CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary report, we observed that HFNO saved the lives of one-third of elderly COVID-19 patients who would have systematically died.
PMID:33823281 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.087