Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Viral Pneumonia-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Observational Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES: Appropriate mechanical ventilation may change the prognosis of patients with viral pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the success of noninvasive ventilation in the management of patients with ARDS secondary to respiratory viral infection. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with viral pneumonia-associated ARDS were divided into the noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) success group and the NIV failure group. The demographic and clinical data of all patients were collected. The factors associated with the success of noninvasive ventilation were identified by the logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among this cohort, 24 patients with an average age of 57.9 ± 17.0 years received successful NIVs, and NIV failure occurred in 21 patients with an average age of 54.1 ± 14.0 years. The independent influencing factors for the success of the NIV were the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (odds ratio (OR): 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–3.03) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (OR: 1.011, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02). When the oxygenation index (OI) is <95 mmHg, APACHE II > 19, and LDH > 498 U/L, the sensitivity and specificity of predicting a failed NIV were (66.6% (95% CI: 43.0%–85.4%) and 87.5% (95% CI: 67.6%–97.3%)); (85.7% (95% CI: 63.7%–97.0%) and 79.1% (95% CI: 57.8%–92.9%)); (90.4% (95% CI: 69.6%–98.8%) and 62.5% (95% CI: 40.6%–81.2%)), respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the OI, APACHE II scores, and LDH were 0.85, which was lower than the AUC of the OI combined with LDH and the APACHE II score (OLA) of 0.97 (P=0.0247). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients with viral pneumonia-associated ARDS receiving successful NIV have lower mortality rates than those for whom NIV failed. In patients with influenza A-associated ARDS, the OI may not be the only indicator of whether NIV can be used; a new indicator of NIV success may be the OLA.