RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences between survivors versus nonsurvivors undergoing mechanical ventilation for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated respiratory failure at two community medical centers. METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis of all adult patients mechanically ventilated for COVID-19-associated respiratory failure in two community hospital intensive care units in southern Mississippi from March 15, 2020 through October 10, 2020. RESULTS: Among 56 patients requiring mechanical ventilation, the mortality rate was 75% (42/56). Expired patients were intubated later (2 vs 5 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.314-0.8041, P = 0.0983), had lower PaO2:FiO2 ratios (65 vs 77.5 mm Hg, 95% CI 36.08-59.03, P = 0.6305), and tolerated lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (7.9 vs 12.6 cm H2O, 95% CI 0.1373-6.722, P = 0.0415) at the time of intubation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that earlier intubation may be associated with reduced mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated respiratory failure and should be further evaluated in the form of a randomized controlled trial.
