Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Acute Respiratory Care of Hypoxemic Patients With Acute Heart Failure in Japan　― A Cross-Sectional Study ―

Background: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the respiratory management strategy with regard to the use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) in Japan is unclear. Methods and Results: This cross-sectional study used a self-reported online questionnaire, with responses from 174 institutions across Japan. More than 60% of institutions responded that the treatment of AHF patients requiring respiratory management became fairly or very difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic than earlier, with institutions in alert areas considering such treatment significantly more difficult than those in non-alert areas (P=0.004). Overall, 61.7% and 58.8% of institutions changed their indications for NPPV and HFNC, respectively. Significantly more institutions in the alert area changed their practices for the use of NPPV and HFNC during the COVID-19 pandemic (P=0.004 and P=0.002, respectively). When there was insufficient time or information to determine whether AHF patients may have concomitant COVID-19, institutions in alert areas were significantly more likely to refrain from using NPPV and HFNC than institutions in non-alert areas. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled healthcare providers to change the respiratory management of AHF, especially in alert areas.