Noninvasive Ventilation in Critically Ill Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Infections

Respir Care. 2024 Aug 24;69(9):1138-1145. doi: 10.4187/respcare.11286.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between noninvasive ventilation (NIV) compared with invasive ventilation and mortality in subjects with severe acute respiratory infection.

Methods: This was a retrospective multi-center study of subjects with severe acute respiratory infection treated with ventilatory support between September 2012 and June 2018. We compared the 90-d mortality of subjects managed initially with NIV (NIV group) with those managed with invasive ventilation only (invasive ventilation group), adjusting by propensity score.

Results: Of 383 subjects, 189 (49%) were in the NIV group and 194 (51%) were in the invasive ventilation group. Of the subjects initially treated with NIV, 117 (62%) were eventually intubated. Crude 90-d mortality was lower in the NIV group versus the invasive ventilation group (42 [22.2%] vs 77 [39.7%]; P < .001). After propensity score adjustment, NIV was associated with lower 90-d mortality than invasive ventilation (odds ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.38-0.76; P < .001). The association of NIV with mortality compared with invasive ventilation was not different across the studied subgroups.

Conclusions: In subjects with severe acute respiratory infection and acute respiratory failure, NIV was commonly used. NIV was associated with a lower 90-d mortality. The observed high failure rate suggests the need for further research to optimize patient selection and facilitate early recognition of NIV failure.

Keywords: Noninvasive ventilation; mechanical ventilation; respiratory failure; severe acute respiratory infection.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Critical Illness* / mortality
  • Critical Illness* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Noninvasive Ventilation* / methods
  • Propensity Score*
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods
  • Respiration, Artificial / statistics & numerical data
  • Respiratory Insufficiency* / mortality
  • Respiratory Insufficiency* / therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections* / complications
  • Respiratory Tract Infections* / mortality
  • Respiratory Tract Infections* / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index