Introduction:

The intensity of mechanical ventilation is reflected by driving pressure and mechanical power. It is a predictor of ventilator-induced lung injury and it can be associated with mortality.

Objective:

To determine if there is a relationship between intensity of mechanical ventilation and ΔSOFA>0 (worsening) in patients with COVID-19 at 72 h after intubation.

Material and Methods:

Study group composed of 35 COVID-19 patients who were ventilated for more than 72 hours. Chi-square test (X 2 ) or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare qualitative variables; Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test was employed for quantitative ones. A Simple Binary Logistic Regression Model was performed in order to find the relationship between variables and dichotomized ΔSOFA for ΔSOFA≤0 and ΔSOFA>0. The discriminatory capacity of the models was tested by using ROC Curve.

Results:

A total of 21 patients (60 %) presented ΔSOFA>0 (worsening). No significant differences related to Driving Pressure were found between the two groups (15 vs. 18, U=94,00, z= -1,795, p=0,77). Mechanical Power (OR 3,421 [95 % CI 1,510 a 7,750, p=0,003]) and Tidal Volume (OR 1,03 [95 % CI 1,012 a 1,068], p=0,005) were good predictors of ΔSOFA>0. The Predictive Model of ΔSOFA>0 depending on Mechanical Power (AUC 0,888 [95 % CI 0,775 a 1], p<0,001) showed a good discriminatory capacity.

Conclusions:

Mechanical Power is related to multi-organ dysfunction worsening in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.

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