Dexamethasone and Oxygen Support Strategies in ICU Patients With Covid-19 Pneumonia (COVIDICUS)

The main manifestation of COVID-19 is acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). In patients with AHRF, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with high mortality. Two hypotheses will be tested in this study. The first hypothesis is the benefit of corticosteroid therapy on severe COVID-19 infection admitted in ICU in terms of survival. The second hypothesis is that, in the subset of patients free of mechanical ventilation at admission, either Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) allows to reduce intubation rate safely during COVID-19 related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

The main manifestation of COVID-19 is acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). In patients with AHRF, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with high mortality. Two hypotheses will be tested in this study. The first hypothesis is the benefit of corticosteroid therapy on severe COVID-19 infection admitted in ICU in terms of survival. The second hypothesis is that, in the subset of patients free of mechanical ventilation at admission, either Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) allows to reduce intubation rate safely during COVID-19 related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The main objective is to assess the impact of dexamethasone on overall mortality at day-60 after randomization in patients admitted in ICU for severe COVID-19 infection. In non mechanical ventilation (MV) patients, the additional objective is to assess whether oxygen support based on either HFNO or CPAP modality in COVID-19 related AHRF reduces the need for mechanical ventilation at day-28. An ancillary study CACAO (COVIDICUS air contamination) will be performed in 4 centers aiming at assessing the environmental contamination by SARS-CoV-2 according to the oxygen support modality. Additional funding will be searched for these analyses (submitted for ANR call). A metanalysis on individual data will be performed using patients enrolled in the 3 PHRC flash exploring the activity of corticosteroids.

In non-mechanically ventilated patients, a 2x2 factorial design will be used to assess the two interventions, separately.

Box of 10 DEXAMETHASONE 20 mg / 5 ml, solution for injection in ampoule of 5mL. Each allocated box contains complete treatment from D1 to D10 for one patient.

Box of 10 NaCl 0,9% , solution for injection in ampoule of 5mL. Each allocated box contains complete treatment from D1 to D10 for one patient.

The oxygen flow will be adjusted to maintain an oxygen saturation level of 92% or more, as measured by means of pulse oximetry (SpO2)

Patients assigned to the CPAP plus oxygen group will receive periods of CPAP in addition to the standard treatment.The oxygen flow will be adjusted to maintain an oxygen saturation level of 92% or more, as measured by means of pulse oximetry (SpO2)

TIn the high-flow-nasal cannula group, oxygen will be delivered through a heated humidifier (Airvo-2, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare) and applied continuously through large-bore binasal prongs, with a gas flow rate of 30 liters per minute and adjusted based on the clinical response. FiO2 will be adjusted for the target SpO2

The oxygen flow will be adjusted to maintain an oxygen saturation level of 92% or more, as measured by means of pulse oximetry (SpO2)

the time to need for mechanical ventilation (MV), as defined by any of the 3 criteria for intubation within the first 28 days after randomization.

The cycle threshold for SARS-CoV-2 PCR at baseline, day 7+/-1 and day 10 +/- in samples of the same origin (preferably subglottic i.e. bronchoalveolar lavage or tracheal aspiration, otherwise nasopharyngeal swab)

Proportion of patients with at least one episode of any healthcare-associated infection between randomization and D28

Changes in SOFA (Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment) score. (min = 0 for normal status max = 24 for worse status)

Proportion of patients with severe hypoxemia, which is defined as an oxygen saturation of less than 80% during the same interval during the interval between induction and 2 minutes after tracheal intubation

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 years Admitted to ICU within 48 hours Confirmed or highly suspected COVID-19 infection Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (PaO2 <70 mmHg or SpO2<90% on room air or tachypnea>30/min or labored breathing or respiratory distress; need for oxygen flow >=6L/min) Any treatment intended to treat the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the absence of contraindications (either as a compassionate use or in the context of a clinical trial, i.e remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine and any other new drug with potential activity). Non-inclusion Criteria: Moribund status Pregnancy or breastfeeding Long term corticotherapy at a dose of 0.5mg/kg/j or higher Active and untreated bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection Not Written informed consent from the patient or a legal representative if appropriate . If absence a legal representative the patient may be included in emergency procedure hypersensitivity to dexamethasone or to any of the excipients Not Affiliation to the French social security

Bouadma L, Mekontso-Dessap A, Burdet C, Merdji H, Poissy J, Dupuis C, Guitton C, Schwebel C, Cohen Y, Bruel C, Marzouk M, Geri G, Cerf C, Megarbane B, Garcon P, Kipnis E, Visseaux B, Beldjoudi N, Chevret S, Timsit JF; COVIDICUS Study Group. High-Dose Dexamethasone and Oxygen Support Strategies in Intensive Care Unit Patients With Severe COVID-19 Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure: The COVIDICUS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Sep 1;182(9):906-916. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.2168.