Validity of a clinical scale in predicting the failure of non-invasive ventilation in hypoxemic patients

Abstract

Introduction: The HACOR scale is a clinical score that can predict early failure of NIV in hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) The aim of this study is to analyze the validity of the HACOR scale.

Methods: A retrospective study of a cohort of over 2749 episodes on 2711 consecutive patients requiring NIV for hypoxemic ARF in a polyvalent intensive care unit. The scale was measured before starting NIV and at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the initiation of NIV.

Results: NIV failure occurred in 963 patients (35%). The value of the HACOR scale before NIV did not differ between success and failure. However, at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h of NIV, the scale values clearly differed between the two groups. The HACOR scale at NIV initiation accurately predicts NIV failure in the first hour, with an optimal cut-off value of 8 points. The AUC for predicting NIV failure with HACOR at 1 h is greater than 0.9 in patients with pneumonia and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Conclusions: The HACOR scale measured at 1 h after NIV initiation accurately predicts NIV failure, especially in pneumonia and ARDS.

Keywords: Hypoxemic acute respiratory failure HACOR scale; Non-invasive ventilation.