Table 2 Baseline characteristics and clinical variables of patients recruited to Groups A and B by treatment group
Variables | Group A | Group B | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
HFNC | CPAP | HFNC | CPAP | |
n = 16(55.2%) | n = 13(44.8%) | n = 43(51.2%) | n = 41(48.8%) | |
Demography | ||||
 Age (years) | n = 16 | n = 13 | n = 43 | n = 40 |
  Median (IQR) | 1.5 (0.6–7.0) | 0.8 (0.7–1.0) | 0.7 (0.2–3.0) | 0.5 (0.1–1.0) |
 Age group, n (%) | ||||
  <1 year | 5 (31.3) | 7 (53.8) | 24 (55.8) | 28 (70.0) |
  1 to 2 years | 5 (31.3) | 5 (38.5) | 8 (18.6) | 7 (17.5) |
  3 to 4 years | 1 (6.3) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.7) | 0 (0.0) |
  5 to 9 years | 2 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (11.6) | 3 (7.5) |
  10 years and over | 3 (18.8) | 1 (7.7) | 4 (9.3) | 2 (5.0) |
 Gender, n (%) |  |  |  |  |
  Female | 8 (50.0) | 7 (58.3) | 27 (62.8) | 14 (35.0) |
  Male | 8 (50.0) | 5 (41.7) | 16 (37.2) | 26 (65.0) |
 Weight (kg) | n = 16 | n = 13 | n = 43 | n = 41 |
  Median (IQR) | 11.4 (6.1–17.1) | 9.0 (7.0–12.6) | 7.5 (5.0–16.3) | 5.8 (3.6–10.0) |
Diagnosis | ||||
 Primary reason for PICU admission, n (%) | ||||
  Apnoea | 1 (6.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.3) | 0 (0.0) |
  Asthma/wheeze | 3 (18.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.3) | 1 (2.4) |
  Bronchiolitis | 2 (12.5) | 4 (30.8) | 8 (18.6) | 11 (26.8) |
  Cardiac | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (11.6) | 3 (7.3) |
  Lung disease | 7 (43.8) | 7 (53.8) | 13 (30.2) | 9 (22.0) |
  Neurological | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (9.3) | 8 (19.5) |
  Neuromuscular disorder | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (4.7) | 0 (0.0) |
  Sepsis | 2 (12.5) | 1 (7.7) | 4 (9.3) | 0 (0.0) |
  Upper airway obstruction | 1 (6.3) | 1 (7.7) | 4 (9.3) | 4 (9.8) |
  Other | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.3) | 5 (12.2) |
 Length of invasive ventilation prior to extubation (days) |  |  | n = 41 | n = 40 |
  Median (IQR) |  |  | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) | 4.0 (2.0–6.0) |
 Modified COMFORT score at baseline | n = 7 | n = 4 | n = 15 | n = 10 |
  Median (IQR) | 17.0 (12.0–22.0) | 15.0 (15.0–17.5) | 17.0 (14.0–19.0) | 17.0 (14.0–22.0) |
Physiology at baseline | ||||
 Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | n = 14 | n = 12 | n = 38 | n = 36 |
  Median (IQR) | 40.5 (33.0–55.0) | 42.0 (39.0–57.0) | 31.5 (27.0–40.0) | 33.0 (24.5–40.0) |
 Heart rate (beats/min) | n = 15 | n = 12 | n = 38 | n = 36 |
  Median (IQR) | 148.0 (128.0–156.0) | 147.5 (125.0–166.0) | 138.5 (112.0–152.0) | 146.5 (115.5–168.0) |
 SpO2 (%) | n = 14 | n = 12 | n = 37 | n = 35 |
  Median (IQR) | 97.0 (94.0–98.0) | 99.0 (96.5–100.0) | 98.0 (95.0–99.0) | 98.0 (96.0–100.0) |
 PaO2 (kPa) | n = 0 | n = 0 | n = 8 | n = 5 |
  Median (IQR) | – | – | 8.8 (5.4,11.4) | 9.5 (6.8,10.4) |
 FiO2 | n = 14 | n = 12 | n = 37 | n = 33 |
  Median (IQR) | 0.7 (0.4–0.8) | 0.5 (0.4–0.7) | 0.3 (0.3–0.5) | 0.3 (0.3–0.4) |
 pH | n = 6 | n = 3 | n = 14 | n = 11 |
  Median (IQR) | 7.4 (7.4–7.4) | 7.3 (7.3–7.4) | 7.4 (7.4–7.5) | 7.3 (7.3–7.4) |
 pCO2 (kPa) | n = 6 | n = 3 | n = 14 | n = 11 |
  Median (IQR) | 5.9 (5.4–6.6) | 5.5 (4.8–7.2) | 5.2 (4.6–6.8) | 7.1 (6.1–7.7) |
Work of breathing | ||||
 Respiratory distress, n (%) | ||||
  None | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 16 (53.3) | 13 (44.8) |
  Mild | 3 (21.4) | 1 (12.5) | 6 (20.0) | 4 (13.8) |
  Moderate | 8 (57.1) | 4 (50.0) | 3 (10.0) | 9 (31.0) |
  Severe | 3 (21.4) | 3 (37.5) | 5 (16.7) | 3 (10.3) |