RECOVERY-RS trial finds continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces need for invasive ventilation in hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Date: 27 September 2021
The NIHR-supported Respiratory Strategies in COVID-19; CPAP, High-flow, and Standard Care (RECOVERY-RS) trial has demonstrated that treating hospitalised COVID-19 patients who have acute respiratory failure with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.
Preliminary data from the trial also suggests that the routine use of high flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO), which can consume large amounts of oxygen, should be reconsidered as it did not improve outcomes for COVID-19 patients compared with conventional oxygen therapy.
The trial compared CPAP (oxygen and positive pressure delivered via a tightly fitting mask), with HFNO (high pressure oxygen delivered up the nose), against standard care (standard oxygen therapy) in hospitalised patients with breathing difficulties.
RECOVERY-RS is the world’s largest non-invasive respiratory support trial for COVID-19 – with over 1200 participants taking part across 48 UK hospitals. Launched in April 2020 as COVID-19 hospitalisation began to soar, the NIHR Clinical Research Network provided prioritised research delivery support to rapidly set the study up at hospital sites across the UK and enroll participants. The trial is also funded by the NIHR – while the NIHR’s research infrastructure, expertise and research delivery support has been critical to the trial’s success.