MedPath

Handling Oxygenation Targets in COVID-19

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
Oxygen Toxicity
Interventions
Drug: High oxygenation target
Drug: Low oxygenation target
Registration Number
NCT04425031
Lead Sponsor
Aalborg University Hospital
Brief Summary

Patients with COVID-19 and hypoxaemic respiratory failure and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are treated with supplementary oxygen as a standard. However, quality of quantity evidence regarding this practise is low. The aim of the HOT-COVID trial is to evaluate the benefits and harms of two targets of partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) in guiding the oxygen therapy in acutely ill adult COVID-19 patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure at ICU admission.

Detailed Description

Acutely ill adult COVID-19 patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are at risk of life-threatening hypoxia, and are provided supplementary oxygen. Liberal use of supplementary oxygen may increase the number of serious adverse events including death. However, the use of supplementary oxygen therapy, and the optimal oxygenation target in COVID-19 patients have not yet been studied.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends an oxygen therapy during resuscitation of COVID-19 patients to achieve an SpO2 of 94% or more, and 90% or more when stable (non-pregnant patients). The Surviving Sepsis Campaing (SSC) recommends a conservative oxygenation strategy for COVID-19 patients targeting an SpO2 no higher than 96%. Both are based on a systematic review and metanalysis from 2018, investigating the association with mortality and higher versus lower oxygenation strategies in critically ill patients in general.

COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU and treated with positive pressure ventilation fulfil the 2012 Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Current practice regarding supplementary oxygen therapy in patients with ARDS follows the regimen used in an randomised clinical trial (RCT) from 2000 comparing lower versus higher tidal volumes; i.e. a partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) of 55-80 mmHg (7.3-10.7 kPa) or a peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 88-95%.

Of note, a recent published RCT demonstrated a lowered all-cause mortality when targeting a higher oxygenation target (PaO2: 12-14 kPa \[90-105 mmHg\]) compared to a lower oxygenation target (PaO2: 7.3-9.3 \[55-70 mmHg\]) in ARDS patients.

The quality and quantity of the current body of evidence regarding oxygenation targets in ARDS is still low.

The aim of the HOT-COVID trial is to evaluate the benefits and harms of two targets of partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) in guiding the oxygen therapy in acutely ill adults COVID-19 patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure at ICU admission.

The HOT-COVID trial is an amendment to the HOT-ICU trial (NCT03174002)

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
726
Inclusion Criteria
  • Acutely admitted to the ICU AND
  • Aged ≥ 18 years AND
  • Receives supplemental oxygen with a flow of at least 10 L per minutes in an open system including high-flow systems OR recieves supplemental oxygen in a closed system including invasive or non-invasive ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-systems AND
  • Expected to receive supplemental oxygen for at least 24 hours in the ICU AND
  • Having an arterial line for PaO2 monitoring AND
  • Confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19) in the time leading to or during current hospital admission
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cannot be randomised within twelve hours after present ICU admission
  • Chronic mechanical ventilation for any reason
  • Use of home oxygen
  • Previous treatment with bleomycin
  • Organ transplant during current hospital admission
  • Withdrawal from active therapy or brain death deemed imminent
  • Fertile woman (< 50 years of age) with positive urine human gonadotropin (hCG) or plasma-hCG
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Cyanide poisoning
  • Methaemoglobinaemia
  • Paraquat poisoning
  • Any condition expected to involve the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Consent not obtainable according to national regulations
  • Previously randomised into the HOT-COVID trial

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
High oxygenation targetHigh oxygenation targetPartial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) 12 kPa (90 mmHg)
Low oxygenation targetLow oxygenation targetPartial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) 8 kPa (60 mmHg)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Days alive without organ supportWithin 90 days

Days alive and free from mechanical ventilation, circulatory support and renal replacement therapy

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
1-year mortality1 year

All-cause mortality 1 year after randomisation

Cognitive function 1-year after randomisation as assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) score in selected sites1 year

RBANS score 1 year after randomisation at selected sites. The overall RBANS global cognition score, as well as each cognitive domain score, range from 40 to 160 with 100 ± 15 being the age-adjusted mean ± standard deviation. Higher scores indicate better performance.

90-days mortality90 days

All-cause mortality 90 days after randomisation

Days alive out of the hospitalWithin 90 days

Days alive out of the hospital

Number of patients with one or more serious adverse eventsUntil ICU discharge, maximum 90 days

Serious adverse events are defined as new episode of shock and new episodes of ischaemic events including myocardial or intestinal ischaemia or ischaemic stroke

Quality of life assessement using the EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L telephone interview1 year

EQ-5D-5L 1-year after randomisation

Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity1 year

Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) 1 year after randomisation at selected sites.

A health economic analysis90 days

Cost-effectiveness versus cost-minimisation analyses after completion of the trial, based on the primary outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (10)

Universitätsspital Basel

🇨🇭

Basel, Switzerland

Dept. of Intensive Care, Aalborg University Hospital

🇩🇰

Aalborg, Denmark

Dept. of Intensive Care 4131, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dept. of Intensive Care, Herlev Hospital

🇩🇰

Herlev, Denmark

Dept. of Intensive Care, Hillerød Hospital

🇩🇰

Hillerød, Denmark

Dept. of Intensive Care, Kolding Hospital

🇩🇰

Kolding, Denmark

Randers Hospital

🇩🇰

Randers, Denmark

Dept. of Intensive Care, Køge Hospital

🇩🇰

Køge, Denmark

Oslo University Hospital

🇳🇴

Oslo, Norway

Dept. of Intensive Care, Slagelse Hospital

🇩🇰

Slagelse, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath