Table 2.
Respiratory support parameters, treatment, and clinical evolution.
| Early HFNC + CPAP | Delayed HFNC + CPAP | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory support parameters | |||
| HFNC FIO2 upon IRCU admission, median (IQR) | 1.0 (0.9–1.0) | 1.0 (0.81–1.0) | 0.065 |
| HFNC flow upon IRCU admission, median (IQR) | 60.0 (60.0–60.0) | 60.0 (60.0–60.0) | 0.43 |
| CPAP initial pressure upon IRCU admission, median (IQR) | 10.0 (8.0–10.0) | 9.0 (8.0–10.0) | 0.04 |
| Other treatment | |||
| Tocilizumab, n (%) | 178 (46.8) | 169 (44.5) | 0.51 |
| Corticosteroids, n (%) | 380 (100) | 379 (99.7) | 0.31 |
| Awake pronation, n (%) | 122 (32.6%) | 118 (31.5%) | 0.73 |
| Clinical evolution | |||
| Respiratory rate at 24 h, median (IQR) | 20 (18–24) | 20 (18–24) | 0.84 |
| SpO2/FiO2 at 24 h, median (IQR) | 116.0 (95.0–136.0) | 112.0 (94.0–131.0) | 0.21 |
| SpO2/FiO2 at 48 h, median (IQR) | 121.0 (96.0–160.0) | 119.0 (95.0–158.0) | 0.42 |
HFNC: high-flow nasal cannula, CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure, IRCU: intermediate respiratory care unit, SpO2/FiO2: peripheral oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen, IROX: ROX index, IQR: interquartile range.