COVID-HIGH: HFNT vs. COT in COVID-19

Sponsor
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT04655638
Collaborator
Azienda Ospedaliera, Universitaria Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele (Other)
364
27
2
8.4
13.5
1.6

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The aim of this unblinded parallel-group randomized multicenter clinical trial is to compare the clinical effectiveness of high flow nasal therapy (HFNT) with conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in patients with confirmed COVID-19 related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: High Flow Nasal Therapy
  • Device: Conventional Oxygen Therapy
N/A

Detailed Description

The interventions will be delivered in any hospital ward caring for COVID-19 patients.

The interventions under investigation will be high flow nasal therapy in comparison with conventional oxygen therapy.

HFNT will be delivered by any device (standalone machine or ventilators able to deliver it). The initial flow rate will be set at 40 L/min and potentially increased up to 60 L/min, according to patient tolerance. Large-bore nasal prongs will be selected according to the size of patients' nostrils (i.e. 2/3 of the diameter of the patient's nostril). A surgical mask will be placed on top of the HFNT interface. The temperature will be set at 37°C or 34 °C according to the patient's comfort. The FiO2 will be adjusted to maintain SpO2 between 92-96%. A feeding tube or a nasogastric tube will not represent a contraindication for the use of HFNT provided the patency of the used nostril.

Conventional Oxygen therapy will be delivered by any device or combination of devices used for delivering oxygen such as nasal cannula, Venturi Mask or Mask with or without a reservoir bag as per usual local practice. Oxygen flow will be titrated to achieve SpO2 between 92-96%.

Co-interventions: Patients potentially eligible for the study will be evaluated by the attending physicians and receive medical therapy based on the attending physician's decision and local protocols. Awake proning is allowed. Local protocols, including drugs and awake proning, will be discussed with the enrolling centers at the initiation visit, and adherence to WHO guidelines will be recommended. Written informed consent from all the patients will be collected.

Termination criteria & protocol violation: Criteria for weaning off COT or HFNT was at clinical discretion of the managing physician based on the improvement in oxygenation with ability to maintain SpO2 of 96% or greater with less than 0.30 of FiO2 or P/F > 300. The switch from COT to HFNT should be considered a protocol violation and should be based on clinical decision of the treating physician.

Criteria to be considered for escalation of treatment: 1) SpO2 ≤ 92% despite COT or HFNT or P/F ≤ 180 with FiO2 ≥ 50%, and 2) at least one of the following: respiratory rate ≥ 28 breaths/min, severe dyspnea, signs of increased work of breathing (e.g. use of accessory muscles). If the patient meets these criteria, escalation of treatment CPAP, NIV or IMV will be considered.

The choice of the type of escalating treatment will be a clinical decision of the treating physician.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
364 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
Unblinded parallel-group randomized multicenter clinical trialUnblinded parallel-group randomized multicenter clinical trial
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
High-Flow Nasal Therapy Versus Conventional Oxygen Therapy in Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial (The COVID-HIGH Trial)
Actual Study Start Date :
Feb 10, 2021
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Sep 22, 2021
Actual Study Completion Date :
Oct 25, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: High Flow Nasal Therapy

High flow nasal therapy

Device: High Flow Nasal Therapy
High flow nasal therapy will be delivered by any device (standalone machine or ventilators able to deliver it). The initial flow rate will be set at 40 L/min and potentially increased up to 60 L/min, according to patient tolerance. Large-bore nasal prongs will be selected according to the size of patients' nostrils (i.e. 2/3 of the diameter of the patient's nostril). A surgical mask will be placed on top of the HFNT interface. The temperature will be set at 37°C or 34 °C according to the patient's comfort. The FiO2 will be adjusted to maintain SpO2 between 92-96%.

Active Comparator: Conventional Oxygen Therapy

Conventional Oxygen therapy

Device: Conventional Oxygen Therapy
Conventional Oxygen therapy will be delivered by any device or combination of devices used for delivering oxygen such as nasal cannula, Venturi Mask or Mask with or without a reservoir bag as per usual local practice. Oxygen flow will be titrated to achieve SpO2 between 92-96%.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. Proportion of patients needing escalation of treatment during hospital stay [28 days]

    Proportion of patients needing escalation of treatment (i.e. noninvasive ventilation - including CPAP - or intubation).

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Proportion of patients needing intubation during hospital stay [28 days]

  2. Proportion of patients who receive CPAP during hospital stay [28 days]

    Proportion of patients who receive continuous positive airway pressure during hospital stay

  3. Proportion of patients who receive NIV during hospital stay [28 days]

    Proportion of patients undergone noninvasive ventilation (e.g. BiLevel, PSV)

  4. Proportion of patients admitted to intensive care unit during hospital stay [28 days]

  5. Proportion of patients who terminate the study protocols for improvement [28 days]

  6. Length of stay in hospital [28 days]

  7. Time to escalation of treatment to CPAP/NIV during hospital stay [28 days]

  8. Time to escalation of treatment to intubation/invasive ventilation during hospital stay [28 days]

  9. Length of stay in ICU [28 day]

  10. Days free from CPAP/NIV during hospital stay [28 days]

  11. Ventilator-free days during hospital stay [28 days]

  12. Oxygen-free days during hospital stay [28 days]

  13. 28-day mortality [28 days from hospital admission]

  14. 60-day mortality [60 days from hospital admission]

  15. Hospital mortality [28 days]

  16. Treatment interruption due to intolerance during study treatment [28 days]

  17. Dyspnea score (BORG scale) during hospital stay [28 days]

    [0= no dyspnea to 10= severe dyspnea] - daily collection

  18. National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) during hospital stay [28 days]

    Daily collection of Six simple physiological parameters that form the basis of the scoring system: respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness or new confusion, temperature. A score is allocated to each parameter, with the magnitude of the score reflecting how extremely the parameter varies from the norm. The score is then aggregated and uplifted by 2 points for people requiring supplemental oxygen to maintain their recommended oxygen saturation. Range of values: 0 (best) - 23 (worst) points.

  19. ROX index during hospital stay [28 days]

    SpO2/FiO2/Respiratory rate - daily collection

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
18 Years and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Age ≥ 18 years old

  • Tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swabs

  • Clinical signs of acute respiratory infection and radiological evidence of pneumonia

  • Hospital admission in any ward or Emergency Department within 48 h

  • SpO2 ≤ 92% or PaO2/FiO2 < 300 in room air and need for oxygen therapy according to clinical judgment, at the screening.

Exclusion Criteria:
  • PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200

  • Respiratory rate ≥ 28 breaths/min and or severe dyspnea and or use of accessory muscles

  • Need for immediate intubation or noninvasive ventilation (including CPAP) according to clinical judgment (e.g. clinical diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema, respiratory acidosis pH ≤ 7.3)

  • Patients already on CPAP/NIV or HFNT at study screening

  • Septic shock

  • Evidence of multiorgan failure

  • Glasgow Coma Scale < 13

  • Inability to comprehend the study content and give informed consent

  • PaCO2 > 45 mmHg, (if blood gas available) or history of chronic hypercapnia

  • Patient already on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) or home NIV/CPAP (even if only overnight)

  • Neuromuscular disease

  • Limitation of care based on patients' or physicians' decision

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly Larisa Greece
2 Department of Anesthesiology, University of Thessaly, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Larissa Greece
3 UO di Pronto Soccorso e Medicina d'Urgenza Humanitas Research Hospital Rozzano Milano Italy
4 U.O. di Medicina interna AULSS 7 Pedemontana Bassano del Grappa VI Italy
5 Pulmonology and Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, S. Donato Hospital, Arezzo, Italy Arezzo Italy
6 Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari Italy
7 Ospedale di Carpi Carpi Italy
8 Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele San Marco" University Hospital, Catania, Italy Catania Italy
9 UO di Medicina d'Urgenza AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele San Marco di Catania Catania Italy
10 Respiratory Section, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara. AOU Ferrara Arcispedale S. Anna. U.O. Pneumologia Ferrara Italy
11 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia. Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital 'Policlinico Riuniti' Foggia Italy
12 UO di Pneumologia ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco Milano Italy
13 AO DEI COLLI - PO Monaldi UO di Pneumologia e Fisiopatologia Respiratoria Napoli Italy
14 AOU San Luigi Gonzaga Orbassano Italy
15 Emergency Department, "S. Maria della Misericordia" Hospital, Perugia, Italy. Perugia Italy
16 U.O. di Pneumologia Azienda USL di Pescara Pescara Italy
17 UO di Pronto Soccorso e Medicina d'Urgenza AUSL Romagna PO Rimini Ospedale "Inferni" Rimini Italy
18 U.O. di PneumoCovid Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni di Roma Roma Italy
19 UO di Pneumologia Ospedale S. Bartolomeo Sarzana Italy
20 Department of Pneumology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza of Turin, Italy. Turin Italy
21 U.O. di Pneumologia ASST Settelaghi Ospedale Circolo Fondazione Macchi Varese Italy
22 U.O. Medicina Respiratoria del Policlinico G.B. Rossi Verona Italy
23 U.O. di Pneumotisiologia Ospedale di Vittorio Veneto Azienda ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana Vittorio Veneto Italy
24 Department of Pneumonology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia Katowice Poland
25 Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Pneumologia Amadora Portugal
26 Hospital Parc Taulí de Sabadell, Pneumologia Sabadell Spain
27 Dokuz Eylül University İzmir Turkey

Sponsors and Collaborators

  • Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo
  • Azienda Ospedaliera, Universitaria Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Andrea Cortegiani, MD, University of Palermo. Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico Paolo Giaccone
  • Principal Investigator: Claudia Crimi, MD, Respiratory Medicine Unit, "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele San Marco" University Hospital

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Additional Information:

Publications

Responsible Party:
Andrea Cortegiani, MD, Principal Investigator, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT04655638
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • 1th Dec 2020
First Posted:
Dec 7, 2020
Last Update Posted:
Oct 26, 2021
Last Verified:
Oct 1, 2021
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
No
Keywords provided by Andrea Cortegiani, MD, Principal Investigator, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Oct 26, 2021