Use of CPAP in COVID-19: a cohort study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the use of CPAP to treat adult inpatients with COVID-19 induced respiratory failure at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust: an observational cohort study.
IRAS ID
287086
Contact name
Nidhi Vaid
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 2 days
Research summary
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has spread quickly throughout the world. The disease is characterised by causing rapid respiratory failure from viral pneumonia or pneumonitis, necessitating a huge increase in hospital admissions for oxygen and ventilatory support. International evidence and guidelines have been conflicting as to whether the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a successful treatment strategy to avoid or delay mechanical ventilation. London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has been involved since the early stages of the epidemic in the UK and has seen some of the highest numbers of hospital admissions. With limited intensive care capacity, the medical high dependency unit quadrupled capacity to offer CPAP to patients who either were not candidates for mechanical ventilation, or those who did not require immediate mechanical ventilation and therefore were thought might avoid it by the use of CPAP. At present there is no published literature describing which patients with COVID-19 are likely to have a successful outcome from CPAP treatment. The ability to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from CPAP in future waves would be invaluable in determining the best allocation of resources; furthermore, if variables indicating a higher likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation are identified, then there is potential to reduce delays in instigating treatment by avoiding CPAP in these patients. We would therefore like to conduct a cohort study to report CPAP outcomes and identify clinical factors that may predict successful outcomes with CPAP alone, progression to ventilation or death.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0201
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion