Intubation Time, Lung Mechanics and Outcome in COVID-19 Patients Suffering Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Single-Center Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical medicine research Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 15 - 23
• Main Authors: Aretha, Diamanto, Kefala, Sotiria, Nikolopoulou, Alexandra, Karamouzos, Vasilios, Valta, Maria, Mplani, Virginia, Georgakopoulou, Alexandra, Papamichail, Chrysavgi, Sklavou, Christina, Fligou, Fotini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elmer Press 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Original; COVID-19; Late intubation; Mechanical ventilation; ARDS
• ISSN: 1918-3003; 1918-3011
• DOI: 10.14740/jocmr4984

We examined the effect of intubation time and the lung mechanics on clinical outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Based on the patient's hospital admission, intubation time was defined as early (≤ 2 days) or late (> 2 days). Patients were further divided into three groups; early (≤ 3 days), late (4 - 6 days), and very late (> 6 days) intubated. A total of 194 patients were included; 66.5% male, median age 65 years. Fifty-eight patients (29.9%) were intubated early and 136 (70.1%) late. Early intubated patients revealed lower mortality (44.8% vs. 72%, P < 0.001), were younger (60 vs. 67, P = 0.002), had lower sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores (6 vs. 8, P = 0.002) and higher lung compliance on admission days 1, 6 and 12 (42 vs. 36, P = 0.006; 40 vs. 33, P < 0.001; and 37.5 vs. 32, P < 0.001, respectively). Older age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.15, P < 0.001), intubation time (aOR = 1.15, P = 0.004), high SOFA scores (aOR = 1.81, P < 0.001), low partial pressure of oxygen (PaO )/fractional inspired oxygen tension (FiO ) ratio (aOR = 0.96, P = 0.001), and low lung compliance on admission days 1 and 12 (aOR = 1.12, P = 0.012 and aOR = 1.14, P < 0.001, respectively) were associated with higher mortality. Very late and late intubated patients had higher mortality rates than patients intubated early (78.4% vs. 63.4% vs. 44.6%, respectively, P < 0.001). Among COVID-19 intubated patients, age, late intubation, high SOFA scores, low PaO /FiO ratio, and low lung compliance are associated with higher intensive care unit (ICU) mortality.