HFNT vs. COT in COVID-19

Study Overview
=================
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.

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.

Official Title
-----------------
High-Flow Nasal Therapy Versus Conventional Oxygen Therapy in Patients With COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial (The COVID-HIGH Trial)

Conditions
-----------------
Covid19, Acute Respiratory Failure

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Device: High Flow Nasal Therapy
* Device: Conventional Oxygen Therapy


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
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

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Unblinded parallel-group randomized multicenter clinical trial
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: High Flow Nasal Therapy<br>High flow nasal therapy | Device: High Flow Nasal Therapy<br>* 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%.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Conventional Oxygen Therapy<br>Conventional Oxygen therapy | Device: Conventional Oxygen Therapy<br>* 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%.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of patients needing escalation of treatment during hospital stay | Proportion of patients needing escalation of treatment (i.e. noninvasive ventilation - including CPAP - or intubation). | 28 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of patients needing intubation during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Proportion of patients who receive CPAP during hospital stay | Proportion of patients who receive continuous positive airway pressure during hospital stay | 28 days | 
| Proportion of patients who receive NIV during hospital stay | Proportion of patients undergone noninvasive ventilation (e.g. BiLevel, PSV) | 28 days | 
| Proportion of patients admitted to intensive care unit during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Proportion of patients who terminate the study protocols for improvement |  | 28 days | 
| Length of stay in hospital |  | 28 days | 
| Time to escalation of treatment to CPAP/NIV during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Time to escalation of treatment to intubation/invasive ventilation during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Length of stay in ICU |  | 28 day | 
| Days free from CPAP/NIV during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Ventilator-free days during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| Oxygen-free days during hospital stay |  | 28 days | 
| 28-day mortality |  | 28 days from hospital admission | 
| 60-day mortality |  | 60 days from hospital admission | 
| Hospital mortality |  | 28 days | 
| Treatment interruption due to intolerance during study treatment |  | 28 days | 
| Dyspnea score (BORG scale) during hospital stay | [0= no dyspnea to 10= severe dyspnea] - daily collection | 28 days | 
| National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) during hospital stay | 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. | 28 days | 
| ROX index during hospital stay | SpO2/FiO2/Respiratory rate - daily collection | 28 days | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
COVID-19, HFNT, Respiratory failure, COT, Oxygen, Pneumonia