Introduction: Currently, there is a lack of evidence on the utilization of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) accompanied by hypercapnic respiratory failure. We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of HFNC compared with conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in such patients.
Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients with AECOPD with a baseline arterial blood gas pH ≥ 7.35, PaO₂ < 60 mmHg, and PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg were enrolled. The primary endpoint was treatment failure, which needs mechanical ventilation.
Results: A total of 320 patients were randomized to either the HFNC group (n = 160) or the COT group (n = 160). Sixteen (10.0%) patients in the HFNC group had treatment failure during hospitalization, which was significantly lower than the COT group figure of 31 (19.4%) patients (p = 0.026). Twenty-four hours after recruitment, the PaCO₂ of the HFNC group was lower than that of the COT group (54.1 ± 9.79 mmHg vs 56.9 ± 10.1 mmHg, p = 0.030). PaCO₂ higher than 59 mmHg after HFNC for 24 h was identified as an independent risk factor for treatment failure [OR 1.078, 95% CI 1.006– 1.154, p = 0.032].
Conclusion: In AECOPD patients with acute compensated hypercapnic respiratory failure, HFNC improved the prognosis compared with COT. Therefore, HFNC might be considered for first-line oxygen therapy in select patients.
Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.Gov: NCT02439333.
Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exacerbation, high-flow nasal cannula, conventional oxygen therapy, hypercapnic respiratory failure