Clinical features of a cohort of patients with CoronavirusDisease 2019 and severe respiratory failure treated withC-PAP support

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim of the study From March 2020 to May2020 we treated 133 SARS-CoV-2 patients in our COVID Unit at'F. Miulli' Hospital, 15 of these were also affected by severe acuterespiratory syndrome that needed CPAP support. The aim of thestudy was to evaluate the clinical features of patients with severerespiratory failure treated with CPAP compared to those with milderone that didn't require it.Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study on133 patients was performed. Patients have been divided into twogroups those who needed CPAP (15) and those who didn't (118)to compare comorbidities and the supportive medical therapy.Results: 80% of the patients treated with CPAP were males (age71 ± 12). Only 13% were smokers;the most frequent comorbidities were heart failure (20%) and renal failure (40%);pre-existentrespiratory diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes mellitusdidn't show a significant impact on the respiratory outcome. Comparing the 2 groups we found a significant difference about theprobability to be transferred in Intensive Care Unit, higher in CPAPtreated patients (p 0,034). We also found differences between thetwo groups about the medical therapy support, in particular theuse of diuretics, resulted significantly higher (p 0,002) in CPAPtreated patients.Conclusions: A severe respiratory failure related to COVID 19 ap pears to be more frequently associated with kidney and heart disease rather than pre-existing worst respiratory situation and so requires in association with C-PAP support also a more substantialmedical therapy.