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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 1/2021

01-12-2021 | Care | Research

Awake prone positioning in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19: the PROFLO multicenter randomized clinical trial

Authors: Jacob Rosén, Erik von Oelreich, Diddi Fors, Malin Jonsson Fagerlund, Knut Taxbro, Paul Skorup, Ludvig Eby, Francesca Campoccia Jalde, Niclas Johansson, Gustav Bergström, Peter Frykholm, the PROFLO Study Group

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

The effect of awake prone positioning on intubation rates is not established. The aim of this trial was to investigate if a protocol for awake prone positioning reduces the rate of endotracheal intubation compared with standard care among patients with moderate to severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, high-flow nasal oxygen or noninvasive ventilation for respiratory support and a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 20 kPa were randomly assigned to a protocol targeting 16 h prone positioning per day or standard care. The primary endpoint was intubation within 30 days. Secondary endpoints included duration of awake prone positioning, 30-day mortality, ventilator-free days, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, use of noninvasive ventilation, organ support and adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to futility.

Results

Of 141 patients assessed for eligibility, 75 were randomized of whom 39 were allocated to the control group and 36 to the prone group. Within 30 days after enrollment, 13 patients (33%) were intubated in the control group versus 12 patients (33%) in the prone group (HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.46–2.21), P = 0.99). Median prone duration was 3.4 h [IQR 1.8–8.4] in the control group compared with 9.0 h per day [IQR 4.4–10.6] in the prone group (P = 0.014). Nine patients (23%) in the control group had pressure sores compared with two patients (6%) in the prone group (difference − 18% (95% CI − 2 to − 33%); P = 0.032). There were no other differences in secondary outcomes between groups.

Conclusions

The implemented protocol for awake prone positioning increased duration of prone positioning, but did not reduce the rate of intubation in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 compared to standard care.

Trial registration

ISRCTN54917435. Registered 15 June 2020 (https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​ISRCTN54917435).
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Awake prone positioning in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19: the PROFLO multicenter randomized clinical trial
Authors
Jacob Rosén
Erik von Oelreich
Diddi Fors
Malin Jonsson Fagerlund
Knut Taxbro
Paul Skorup
Ludvig Eby
Francesca Campoccia Jalde
Niclas Johansson
Gustav Bergström
Peter Frykholm
the PROFLO Study Group
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Care
COVID-19
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03602-9

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