High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Guidelines recommend the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF). It is unclear whether HFNC is noninferior to NIV in terms of the rate of...

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Main Authors: Jinlv Qin, Guizuo Wang, Yixing Liao, Wenli Shang, Dong Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Annals of Intensive Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-025-01480-w
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author Jinlv Qin
Guizuo Wang
Yixing Liao
Wenli Shang
Dong Han
author_facet Jinlv Qin
Guizuo Wang
Yixing Liao
Wenli Shang
Dong Han
author_sort Jinlv Qin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Guidelines recommend the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF). It is unclear whether HFNC is noninferior to NIV in terms of the rate of tracheal intubation or mortality. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of HFNC and NIV in patients with AECOPD and hypercapnic ARF. Methods A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on treatment of hypercapnic AECOPD with HFNC, compared with NIV, were reviewed. Estimated effects of included studies were pooled as risk ratios (RRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Four RCTs (enrolling 486 patients) met the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.68), and intubation rate (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.83) between the two groups. The treatment switch rate (RR 2.60, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.38) and treatment failure rate (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.60) were significantly lower in NIV groups. Conclusions Compared with NIV, HFNC was not associated with increased mortality and intubation rate. More patients receiving HFNC oxygen therapy experienced treatment failure and switched to NIV, which may mask the fact that HFNC is inferior to NIV in patients with AECOPD and hypercapnic ARF.
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spelling doaj-art-674cfc8dd47041449b950d2085f7cdb62025-08-20T03:07:54ZengSpringerOpenAnnals of Intensive Care2110-58202025-05-011511810.1186/s13613-025-01480-wHigh flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsJinlv Qin0Guizuo Wang1Yixing Liao2Wenli Shang3Dong Han4Radioimmunoassay Center, Shaanxi Provincial People’s HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s HospitalDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s HospitalDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s HospitalAbstract Background Guidelines recommend the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF). It is unclear whether HFNC is noninferior to NIV in terms of the rate of tracheal intubation or mortality. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of HFNC and NIV in patients with AECOPD and hypercapnic ARF. Methods A systematic search was made of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov, without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on treatment of hypercapnic AECOPD with HFNC, compared with NIV, were reviewed. Estimated effects of included studies were pooled as risk ratios (RRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Four RCTs (enrolling 486 patients) met the inclusion criteria. There was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.68), and intubation rate (RR 1.67, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.83) between the two groups. The treatment switch rate (RR 2.60, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.38) and treatment failure rate (RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.60) were significantly lower in NIV groups. Conclusions Compared with NIV, HFNC was not associated with increased mortality and intubation rate. More patients receiving HFNC oxygen therapy experienced treatment failure and switched to NIV, which may mask the fact that HFNC is inferior to NIV in patients with AECOPD and hypercapnic ARF.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-025-01480-wHFNCNIVCOPDMortality
spellingShingle Jinlv Qin
Guizuo Wang
Yixing Liao
Wenli Shang
Dong Han
High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Annals of Intensive Care
HFNC
NIV
COPD
Mortality
title High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_fullStr High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full_unstemmed High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_short High flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for AECOPD with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_sort high flow nasal therapy versus noninvasive ventilation for aecopd with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure a meta analysis of randomized controlled trials
topic HFNC
NIV
COPD
Mortality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-025-01480-w
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