Drugs in Context (Apr 2022)

Real-world use of inhaled nitric oxide therapy in patients with COVID-19 and mild-to-moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome

  • Steven H Abman,
  • Nicholas R Fox,
  • M Ibrahim Malik,
  • Sneha S Kelkar,
  • Shelby L Corman,
  • Sanika Rege,
  • Jenna Bhaloo,
  • Rachel Shah,
  • Ren-Jay Shei,
  • Dana Saporito,
  • Nisreen Shamseddine,
  • Erik DeBoer,
  • George J Wan,
  • on behalf of the NOTICE Study Investigators

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7573/dic.2022-1-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been studied in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 when it may be too late to impact disease course. This article aims to describe real-world iNO use and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 with mild-to-moderate ARDS in the United States. Methods: This was a retrospective medical chart review study that included patients who were ≥18 years old, hospitalized for COVID-19, met the Berlin ARDS definition, received iNO for ≥24 hours continuously during hospitalization, and had a partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio (P/F ratio) of >100 to ≤300 mmHg at iNO initiation. Outcomes included oxygenation parameters, physician-rated Clinical Global Impression–Improvement (CGI-I) scale scores, and adverse events. Response to iNO was defined as >20% improvement in P/F ratio. Results: Thirty-seven patients at six sites were included. A P/F ratio of ≤100 was the most common reason for exclusion (n=146; 83% of excluded patients). The mean P/F ratio (SD) increased from 136.7 (34.4) at baseline to 140.3 (53.2) at 48 hours and 151.8 (50.0) at 72 hours after iNO initiation. The response rate was 62% (n=23). During hospitalization, no patient experienced adverse events, including methemoglobinaemia, airway injury, or worsening pulmonary oedema associated with iNO. At discharge, 54.0% (n=20) of patients improved or remained stable according to the CGI-I. Conclusion: In patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and mild-to- moderate ARDS, iNO was associated with improvement in the P/F ratio with no reported toxicity. This study provides additional evidence supporting a favourable benefit–risk profile for iNO in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ARDS in patients with COVID-19 infection.

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