Demographics of 48 patients requiring respiratory support on respiratory high-dependency unit managed by continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) initially
| CPAP only | CPAP to HFNO | Overall | |
| Number of patients | 22 (45.8%) | 26 (54.2%) | 48 (100%) |
| Age (years; median, IQR) | 63 (54–77) | 73 (57–83) | 69 (54–80) |
| Male | 17 (77.3%) | 15 (57.7%) | 32 (66.7%) |
| Female | 5 (22.7%) | 11 (42.3%) | 16 (33.3%) |
| BMI (kg/m2) (median, IQR) | 29.9 (25.5–33.3) | 28.3 (26.2–31.8) | 29.5 (25.6–33.4) |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Hypertension | 11 (50%) | 12 (46.2%) | 23 (47.9%) |
| Diabetes | 10 (45.5%) | 7 (26.9%) | 17 (35.4%) |
| Chronic lung disease: | 10 (45.5%) | 5 (19.2%) | 15 (31.3%) |
| - Asthma | 3 (13.6%) | 3 (11.5%) | 6 (12.5%) |
| - COPD | 5 (22.7%) | 1 (3.8%) | 6 (12.5%) |
| - ILD | 2 (9.1%) | 1 (3.8%) | 3 (6.3%) |
| CKD | 3 (13.6%) | 6 (23.1%) | 9 (18.8%) |
| Cardiovascular | 4 (18.2%) | 4 (15.4%) | 8 (16.7%) |
| Anticoagulated | 5 (22.7%) | 2 (7.7%) | 7 (14.6%) |
| Immunosuppressed | 0 (0%) | 6 (23.1%) | 6 (12.5%) |
| Stroke | 2 (9.1%) | 2 (7.7%) | 4 (8.3%) |
| Autoimmune | 0 (0%) | 2 (7.7%) | 2 (4.2%) |
| Other | 4 (18.2%) | 1 (3.8%) | 5 (10.4%) |
| Number of comorbidities median (IQR) | 2.5 (1.25–4) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) |
| Clinical Frailty Score median (IQR) | 3 (2–3) | 4 (3–5) | 3 (3–4) |
| Laboratory findings Median (IQR) | |||
| Lymphocytes (109/L)* | 0.7 (0.5–1.1) | 0.7 (0.5–0.9) | 0.7 (0.5–0.9) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 163.0 (101.3–195.5) | 182.5 (142.3–206.5) | 172.5 (127.8–199.0) |
| D dimer (µg/L) | 1272.0 (818.3–2132.8) | 1377.5 (805.3–2808.0) | 1291.5 (793.3–2220.3) |
Data presented as number (%) unless otherwise stated.
*Excluding one patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
BMI, body mass index; CKD, chronic kidney disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; HFNO, high-flow nasal oxygen; ILD, interstitial lung disease.