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High-flow nasal oxygen vs. conventional oxygen therapy in patients with COVID-19 related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and a do not intubate order: a multicentre cohort study

  • Daphne J.T. Sjauw
  • , Lisa M. Hessels
  • , NORMO2 project group
  • , Dutch HFNO study group
  • , Marieke L. Duiverman
  • , Judith Elshof
  • , Matthijs L. Janssen
  • , Yasemin Türk
  • , Leo Heunks
  • , Sara J. Baart
  • , Evert Jan Wils*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland
  • North West Hospital Group
  • Trauma Center Utrecht
  • University Medical Centre Groningen
  • Radboud University Medical Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
41 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: 

High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) is frequently used to treat patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) due to viral pneumonia, including COVID-19. However, its clinical effect compared to conventional oxygen therapy (COT) remains largely unexplored in patients with a do not intubate (DNI) order. We aimed to assess whether HFNO compared to COT is associated with improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with AHRF due to COVID-19 and a DNI order. 

Methods:

This analysis included patients with a DNI order and SARS-CoV-2 infection, selected from three observational studies, who were treated with COT only or HFNO. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, the secondary endpoint was hospital length of stay (LOS). The effect of HFNO vs. COT was assessed using multivariable regression, accounting for pre-selected confounders. 

Results: 

Between March 2020 and September 2021, 116 patients received HFNO and 110 patients received COT. Median age was 78 [72–83], and 78% of the patients had a Clinical Frailty Scale score of 4 to 9. In-hospital mortality was 64% for HFNO and 71% for COT (p = 0.29), with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.72 (95% confidence interval [0.34–1.54], p = 0.40). Hospital LOS was 11 [6–18] days for HFNO, and 7 [4–12] days for COT (p < 0.001), with a remaining difference after adjusting for confounders (p < 0.01). 

Conclusion: 

The lack of survival benefit and increased hospital LOS should be taken into account when considering HFNO for patients with a DNI order, suffering from AHRF due to viral pneumonia, like COVID-19. Clinical trial registration : HFNO-COVID-19 study: DTR, NL9067 (Dutch Trial Registry), registration date: 27-11-2020.

Original languageEnglish
Article number161
JournalRespiratory Research
Volume26
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

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