Effect of prone positioning on oxygenation and static respiratory system compliance in COVID-19 ARDS versus non-COVID ARDS

Abstract

Background: Prone positioning is recommended for patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving mechanical ventilation. While the debate continues as to whether COVID-19 ARDS is clinically different from non-COVID ARDS, there is little data on whether the physiological effects of prone positioning differ between the two conditions. We aimed to compare the physiological effect of prone positioning between patients with COVID-19 ARDS and those with non-COVID ARDS. Methods: We retrospectively compared 23 patients with COVID-19 ARDS and 145 patients with non-COVID ARDS treated using prone positioning while on mechanical ventilation. Changes in PaO2/FiO2 ratio and static respiratory system compliance (Crs) after the first session of prone positioning were compared between the two groups: first, using all patients with non-COVID ARDS, and second, using subgroups of patients with non-COVID ARDS matched 1:1 with patients with COVID-19 ARDS for baseline PaO2/FiO2 ratio and static Crs. We also evaluated whether the response to the first prone positioning session was associated with the clinical outcome. Results: When compared with the entire group of patients with non-COVID ARDS, patients with COVID-19 ARDS showed more pronounced improvement in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (adjusted difference 39.3 [95% CI 5.2–73.5] mmHg) and static Crs (adjusted difference 3.4 [95% CI 1.1–5.6] mL/cmH2O). However, these between-group differences were not significant when the matched samples (either PaO2/FiO2-matched or compliance-matched) were analyzed. The improvements in PaO2/FiO2 ratio (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.19, 95% CI 1.08–1.30) and static Crs (subdistribution hazard ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.29–1.91) after the first prone positioning session were associated with successful discontinuation of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 ARDS. Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19 ARDS, prone positioning was as effective in improving respiratory physiology as in patients with non-COVID ARDS. Thus, it should be actively considered as a therapeutic option. The physiological response to the first session of prone positioning was predictive of the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 ARDS.