Noninvasive Ventilatory Support of Patients with COVID-19 outside the Intensive Care Units (WARd-COVID)

(778/909; 85%) patients were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was delivered by helmet in 617 (68%) patients. NIV failed in 300 patients (37.6%), whereas 498 (62.4%) patients were discharged alive without intubation. Overall mortality was 25%. NIV failure occurred in 152/284 (53%) patients with an arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2 )/fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2 ) ratio ,150 mm Hg. Higher C-reactive protein and lower PaO2 /FIO2 and platelet counts were independently associated with increased risk of NIV failure. Conclusions: The use of NIV outside the ICUs was common in COVID-19, with a predominant use of helmet CPAP, with a rate of success .60% and close to 75% in full-treatment patients. C-reactive protein, PaO2 /FIO2 , and platelet counts were independently associated with increased risk of NIV failure.