Intubation rate of patients with hypoxia due to COVID-19 treated with awake proning: A meta-analysis

Am J Emerg Med. 2021 May:43:88-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.01.058. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Abstract

Background: Awake prone positioning (PP), or proning, is used to avoid intubations in hypoxic patients with COVID-19, but because of the disease's novelty and constant evolution of treatment strategies, the efficacy of awake PP is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of the literature to assess the intubation rate among patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or noninvasive ventilatory support who underwent awake PP.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases through August 15, 2020 to identify relevant randomized control trials, observational studies, and case series. We performed random-effects meta-analyses for the primary outcome of intubation rate. We used moderator analysis and meta-regressions to assess sources of heterogeneity. We used the standard and modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scales (NOS) to assess studies' quality.

Results: Our search identified 1043 articles. We included 16 studies from the original search and 2 in-press as of October 2020 in our analysis. All were observational studies. Our analysis included 364 patients; mean age was 56.8 (SD 7.12) years, and 68% were men. The intubation rate was 28% (95% CI 20%-38%, I2 = 63%). The mortality rate among patients who underwent awake PP was 14% (95% CI 7.4%-24.4%). Potential sources of heterogeneity were study design and setting (practice and geographic).

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an intubation rate of 28% among hypoxic patients with COVID-19 who underwent awake PP. Awake PP in COVID-19 is feasible and practical, and more rigorous research is needed to confirm this promising intervention.

Keywords: Awake Proning; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Intubation; Noninvasive ventilation; Prone positioning.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Intubation, Intratracheal / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pandemics*
  • Prone Position*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy*
  • Wakefulness*