Early prone positioning therapy for patients with mild COVID-19 disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

In December 2019, Wuhan, China, experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Some patients admitted to our hospital were treated with early prone positioning (PP). Here, we analyzed its clinical significance.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective observational study. We defined the early PP group as mild COVID-19 patients who were placed into a prone position within 24h of admission; others served as the control group. We recorded basic data and outcomes of early PP and compared the results to those of controls.

RESULTS:

After 1 day of treatment, oxygenation was greater in the early PP group than in the control group (P/F: 421.6±39.74 vs. 382.1±38.84mmHg [1mmHg=0.133kPa], p<0.01). And early PP group spent less total time in prone position (11.1±4.17 vs. 16.9±5.20 days, p<0.01), and required shorter hospitalization duration (12.2±4.49 vs. 23.2±4.83 days, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Early PP treatment can improve hypoxia and shorten the prone position time and hospitalization duration in mild COVID-19 patients. It is a potential clinically applicable intervention.

• Authors: Xiaoyi Liu, Hui Liu, Qing Lan, Xiangde Zheng, Jun Duan, Fanwei Zeng
• Journal: Medicina clinica (Med Clin (Barc)) Vol. 156 Issue 8 Pg. 386-389 (04 23 2021) ISSN: 1578-8989 [Electronic] Spain
• PMID: 33478810 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• COVID-19 (therapy)
• China (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Positioning
• Prone Position