Approach

Management predominantly depends on disease severity, and focuses on the following principles: infection prevention and control measures; symptom management; prevention of disease progression; optimized supportive care; and organ support in severe or critical illness.

Best Practice has published a separate topic on the Management of coexisting conditions in the context of COVID-19.

Key recommendations

  • Consider whether the patient can be managed at home. Generally, patients with asymptomatic or mild to moderate disease can be managed at home.[84] Provide symptom relief as necessary, including treatments for fever or cough.[84][392] Consider antiviral treatment or monoclonal antibody treatment (depending on circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] variants or subvariants) in patients with nonsevere disease who are at highest risk of hospitalization.[390][392][393]

  • Admit patients with severe disease to an appropriate healthcare facility. Assess adults for frailty on admission. Patients with critical disease require intensive care; involve the critical care team in discussions about admission to critical care when necessary. Monitor patients closely for signs of disease progression.[84][392] 

  • Start supportive care according to the clinical presentation. This might include symptom relief, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Sepsis and septic shock should be managed according to local protocols.[84] 

  • Consider empiric antibiotics if there is clinical suspicion of a secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics may be required in patients with moderate, severe, or critical disease. Give within 1 hour of initial assessment for patients with suspected sepsis or if the patient meets high-risk criteria. Base the regimen on the clinical diagnosis, local epidemiology and susceptibility data, and local treatment guidelines.[84][392] 

  • Consider systemic corticosteroid therapy in patients with severe or critical disease. Moderate-quality evidence suggests that systemic corticosteroids probably reduce 28-day mortality in patients with severe and critical disease.[390][392][393]

  • Consider the antiviral remdesivir in patients with severe disease. Low-certainty evidence suggests that remdesivir possibly reduces mortality, and moderate-certainty evidence suggests that remdesivir probably reduces the need for mechanical ventilation.[390][392][393]

  • Consider an interleukin-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab or sarilumab) and/or a Janus kinase inhibitor (baricitinib) in patients with severe or critical disease. High-certainty evidence suggests that interleukin-6 inhibitors reduce mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation. High-certainty evidence suggests that baricitinib reduces mortality, and moderate-certainty evidence suggests that it probably reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation.[390][392][393]

  • Assess whether the patient requires any rehabilitation or follow-up after discharge. Discontinue transmission-based precautions (including isolation) and release patients from the care pathway according to your local guidance.[84] 

  • For full details and guidance see information below.

Infection prevention and control

Implement local infection prevention and control procedures when managing patients. For patients in home isolation, advise patients and household members to follow appropriate infection prevention and control measures:

Guidance on when to stop isolation varies widely across locations.

  • Isolation periods, if applicable, may depend on various factors including circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and patient factors (e.g., immunocompetent/immunocompromised, asymptomatic/symptomatic, disease severity).

  • The World Health Organization recommends 10 days of isolation for symptomatic patients, and 5 days of isolation for asymptomatic patients (based on very low-certainty evidence). Rapid antigen testing may be used to reduce the period of isolation.[84] 

  • Some countries now recommend isolation periods as short as 5 days to 7 days, and some no longer recommend an isolation period at all.

  • Consult your local public health guidance for more information.

Mild to moderate (nonsevere) COVID-19

Approximately 80% of patients have mild illness that does not warrant medical intervention or hospitalization, depending on the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant.[390] The pooled proportion of nonsevere illness in people infected with the Omicron variant was 98%, and the pooled proportion of asymptomatic infection was 25% (proportions varied depending on vaccination status).[429] For disease severity definitions, see Criteria.

Location of care

  • Manage patients in a healthcare facility, in a community facility, or at home according to guidance from your local public health authority. Home management can be considered in most patients, with telemedicine or remote visits as appropriate. Manage patients at high risk of deterioration in a healthcare facility.[84][390][670]

    • Observational evidence suggests that implementation of an early home treatment algorithm/remote patient monitoring program reduced the risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and length of hospital stay.[671][672]

  • The decision to manage patients at home requires careful clinical judgment and should be informed by an assessment of the patient’s home environment to ensure that:[670]

    • Infection prevention and control measures and other requirements can be met (e.g., basic hygiene, adequate ventilation)

    • The caregiver is able to provide care and recognize when the patient may be deteriorating

    • The caregiver has adequate support (e.g., food, supplies, psychological support)

    • The support of a trained health worker is available in the community.

Symptom management

  • Fever and pain: acetaminophen or ibuprofen are recommended.[84][392] Ibuprofen should only be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period needed to control symptoms.

  • Cough: advise patients to avoid lying on their back as this makes coughing ineffective. Use simple measures first (e.g., a teaspoon of honey in patients ages 1 year and older) to help cough.[392] 

    • A meta-analysis found that honey is superior to usual care (e.g., antitussives) for the improvement of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, particularly cough frequency and severity.[673]

  • Olfactory dysfunction: consider treatment (e.g., olfactory training, intranasal corticosteroids) if olfactory dysfunction persists beyond 2 weeks. Often it improves spontaneously and does not require specific treatment.[674][675]

    • A Cochrane review found there is very limited evidence regarding the efficacy and harms of different interventions for preventing or treating persistent olfactory dysfunction following infection. The only evidence available is for intranasal corticosteroids (for prevention), and this is of very low certainty, so no conclusions could be drawn.[676][677]

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that there were no significant differences in the improvement of olfactory scores with either intranasal or oral corticosteroids plus olfactory training compared with olfactory training alone. Olfactory function was significantly improved after olfactory training.[678]

Supportive care

  • Advise patients about adequate nutrition and appropriate rehydration. Advise patients to drink fluids regularly to avoid dehydration. Fluid intake needs can be higher than usual because of fever. However, too much fluid can worsen oxygenation.[84][392] 

  • Advise patients to improve air circulation by opening a window or door.[392]

  • Provide basic mental health and psychosocial support for all patients, and manage any symptoms of insomnia, depression, or anxiety as appropriate.[84]

  • Most children with mild or moderate disease can be managed with supportive care alone and will not require any specific therapy (unless considered high risk for progression to severe disease).[390]

Antivirals

  • Antiviral agents are approved or have an emergency-use authorization in most countries. Options include:

    • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir: nirmatrelvir is an oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor. It is administered with a low dose of ritonavir to slow the hepatic metabolism of nirmatrelvir and increase the plasma concentration of nirmatrelvir to a therapeutic level

    • Molnupiravir: an oral SARS-CoV-2 nucleoside analog

    • Remdesivir: an intravenous RNA polymerase inhibitor.

  • The World Health Organization strongly recommends nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and conditionally recommends remdesivir or molnupiravir, in patients with nonsevere disease who are at highest risk of hospitalization. It conditionally recommends against the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients with nonsevere disease who are at low risk of hospitalization.[393][679][680]

    • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is a superior choice to other treatments for nonsevere disease because it may have greater efficacy in preventing hospitalization compared with the alternatives, has fewer concerns with respect to harms than does molnupiravir, and is easier to administer than intravenous remdesivir. However, it does have significant and complex drug-drug interactions.

    • The recommendation for remdesivir is based on moderate-certainty evidence that suggests remdesivir probably reduces hospital admission, and low-certainty evidence that suggests it may have little or no impact on mortality. The balance between benefits and potential harms favors treatment, but only in the highest risk group.

    • The recommendation for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is based on moderate-certainty evidence that suggests nirmatrelvir/ritonavir likely reduces hospital admission, and low-certainty evidence that suggests it may have little or no impact on mortality.

    • The recommendation for molnupiravir is based on moderate-certainty evidence that suggests molnupiravir probably reduces hospital admission and time to symptom resolution, and low-certainty evidence that suggests it may reduce mortality.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir or remdesivir for patients who do not need supplemental oxygen, and are thought to be at high risk of progression to severe disease.[392][681]​ 

    • The recommendations for molnupiravir and remdesivir are conditional recommendations. Evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of molnupiravir and remdesivir is currently under review through the NICE multiple technology appraisal process.

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and remdesivir as preferred treatments, and molnupiravir as an alternative treatment (i.e., when preferred therapies are not available, feasible to use, or clinically appropriate), for nonhospitalized patients with mild to moderate disease who are at high risk of clinical progression.[390] 

    • The Infectious Diseases Society of America supports the use of antivirals in these patients, but only recommends molnupiravir in patients who have no other treatment options.[682]

  • Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis, ideally within 5 days of symptom onset for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir, or within 7 days of symptom onset for remdesivir.[390][392][393]

    • Longer and/or additional courses of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or remdesivir may be required in immunocompromised patients who have prolonged symptomatic disease with evidence of ongoing viral replication, despite receiving an initial course of antiviral therapy.

    • If a patient requires hospitalization after starting treatment, the full treatment course can be completed at the healthcare provider’s discretion.

    • Logistical or supply constraints may make patient triage for antiviral treatment necessary. Therapy should be prioritized for patients who are at the highest risk of progressing to severe disease.

    • Logistical constraints may make it difficult to administer remdesivir in some outpatient settings as it requires administration via intravenous infusion.

  • Antivirals are not generally recommended in children <12 years of age, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women.[390][392][393] However, recommendations vary, and you should consult your local guidelines.

  • Cases of viral rebound (i.e., recurrent positive polymerase chain reaction result) and the recurrence of symptoms have been reported after antiviral treatment.[683][684][685][686]​ However, it appears to be uncommon, and can also occur in patients who have not received treatment.[687][688][689]​​

    • The recurrence of symptoms may represent part of the natural history of infection, or may be related to other factors (e.g., reinfection, emergence of treatment-resistant mutations).

    • Symptoms appear to be milder than those experienced during the primary infection and are unlikely to lead to hospitalization.

    • There is currently no evidence that additional treatment is needed, and patients should follow their local public health guidelines.

    • The frequency and clinical implications of these events are not yet known, and further research is required.

    • The Food and Drug Administration has instructed the manufacturer to evaluate an additional course of therapy in people with rebound infections by September 2023.

  • Evidence for the use of antivirals in patients with nonsevere disease is limited.

    • Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% (within 3 days of symptom onset) and 88% (within 5 days of symptom onset) compared with placebo in nonhospitalized high-risk adults in the phase 2/3 EPIC-HR trial.[690]​ Meta-analyses have found that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced the risk of emergency department visits, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, oxygen requirement, and mortality. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.[691][692]​​​​ One systematic review found that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduced the risk of mortality and hospitalization in older patients (moderate-certainty evidence), but did not improve the outcomes of mortality and hospitalization in patients <65 years of age (low-certainty evidence).[693] A Cochrane review found that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces the risk of all-cause mortality and hospital admission or death within 28 days in unvaccinated patients with previous infection who were at high risk with symptom onset within 5 days (low-certainty evidence). The review was based on current evidence, which included only one trial.[694]

    • Molnupiravir was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 31% (absolute risk reduction from 9.7% to 6.8%) in the 29 days after use compared with placebo in nonhospitalized, unvaccinated, at-risk adults in the phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial.[695]​ However, the PANORAMIC trial found that molnupiravir did not reduce the risk of hospitalization or death among high-risk vaccinated adults in the community compared with placebo, although it did reduce time to recovery.[696]​ Meta-analyses are conflicting. Some meta-analyses show no significant effect on reducing mortality or hospitalization with molnupiravir.[697][698]​​ However, others show that molnupiravir has a significant impact on reducing mortality and hospitalization.[699][700]​ Emerging evidence suggests that use of molnupiravir may be contributing to the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but further research is required.[701]​ 

    • Remdesivir was found to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by 87% compared with placebo in nonhospitalized high-risk adults in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.[702]

    • When comparing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir demonstrated superiority to molnupiravir in terms of all-cause mortality and hospitalization rate in one systematic review and meta-analysis. The incidence of adverse events was higher with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, but no significant difference was observed between the two drugs in terms of adverse events that led to treatment discontinuation.[703] 

    • There are limited data available on the use of antiviral therapy in immunocompromised patients.[390]

Monoclonal antibodies

  • Monoclonal antibodies are approved or have an emergency-use authorization in most countries.

    • Monoclonal antibodies bind to nonoverlapping epitopes of the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein to block virus entry into host cells.

    • Options may include bebtelovimab, tixagevimab/cilgavimab, casirivimab/imdevimab, sotrovimab, bamlanivimab/etesevimab, and regdanvimab, depending on your location.

    • Outpatient administration in specialized clinics is required as these agents are administered parenterally, which may limit their feasibility.[393] 

    • Logistical or supply constraints may make patient triage for monoclonal antibody treatment necessary. Therapy should be prioritized for patients who are at the highest risk of progressing to severe disease.

  • Choice of monoclonal antibody depends on availability, as well as clinical and contextual factors including information about efficacy with different SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants.[390][392][393] 

    • Check your local guidance for information about whether a particular monoclonal antibody is effective against current circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and subvariants.

    • Treatment should be started as soon as possible and within 7 days of symptom onset.

  • Guideline recommendations vary.

    • The World Health Organization strongly recommends against the use of sotrovimab and casirivimab/imdevimab for patients with nonsevere disease, as there is evidence of a reduction in effectiveness against currently circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 and their subvariants. The agency makes no recommendations for other monoclonal antibodies, and recommends the use of antivirals instead (see above).[393][679][680]

    • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends sotrovimab as an option for treating patients ≥12 years of age who do not need supplemental oxygen, who have an increased risk for progression to severe disease, and for whom nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is contraindicated or unsuitable. Casirivimab/imdevimab is not recommended for treating acute COVID-19.[392][681]​​

    • ​​In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends against bebtelovimab for the treatment of nonhospitalized patients with mild to moderate disease who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease. This is because SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants that are anticipated to be resistant to bebtelovimab have been rapidly increasing in the US. The panel makes no recommendations for other monoclonal antibodies, and recommends the use of antivirals instead (see above).[390] Bebtelovimab is not currently authorized for use in any US region.[704]

  • Evidence for the use of monoclonal antibodies in nonhospitalized patients is uncertain.

    • A Cochrane review found that the evidence is insufficient to draw meaningful conclusions about any specific monoclonal antibody, and the disease stage in which it should be used. Casirivimab/imdevimab decreases the risk of infection and development of clinical symptoms (high-certainty evidence). Bamlanivimab decreases the risk of infection (moderate-certainty evidence). These findings only apply to unvaccinated people, and are only applicable to variants prevailing during the study.[705]

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled trials found that monoclonal antibodies had limited effects on most of the outcomes in nonhospitalized patients with the certainty of evidence ranging from very low to moderate for most outcomes. Monoclonal antibodies reduced hospitalization, but there were no effects on mortality.[706] 

Antimicrobials

  • Consider empiric antibiotics in patients with moderate disease only if there is clinical suspicion of secondary bacterial infection.[84][390][392]

    • Start treatment as soon as possible, and refer to local guidelines for choice of regimen.

    • Do not offer an antibiotic for preventing secondary bacterial pneumonia.

  • Advise patients to seek medical help without delay if their symptoms do not improve, or worsen rapidly or significantly.[392]

    • Reconsider whether the person has signs and symptoms of more severe disease on reassessment, and whether to refer them to hospital, other acute community support services, or palliative care services.

Monitoring

  • Closely monitor patients (particularly those with risk factors for severe illness) for signs and symptoms of disease progression. Counsel patients about signs and symptoms of deterioration or complications that require prompt urgent care (e.g., difficulty breathing, chest pain).[84][390]

  • Pulse oximetry monitoring at home is recommended in symptomatic patients with risk factors for progression to severe disease who are not hospitalized. Patient education and appropriate follow-up are required.[84]

  • If the patient is being managed in hospital, monitor patients closely for signs of clinical deterioration using medical early warning scores (e.g., National Early Warning Score 2 [NEWS2]), and respond immediately with appropriate supportive care interventions.[84] 

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the NEWS2 score had moderate sensitivity and specificity in predicting the deterioration of patients with COVID-19. The score showed good discrimination in predicting the combined outcome of the need for intensive respiratory support, admission to the intensive care unit, or in-hospital mortality.[464]

Corticosteroids

  • Guidelines do not recommend systemic corticosteroids in patients with nonsevere disease, unless there is another medical indication to do so, as they may increase the risk of mortality in these patients.[390][392][393] 

Antithrombotic therapy

  • Guidelines recommend against the use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of venous thromboembolism or arterial thrombosis in nonhospitalized patients without evidence of venous thromboembolism, unless the patient has other indications for therapy or is participating in a clinical trial.[390][707]

  • A Cochrane review found that prophylactic anticoagulation results in little or no difference in the need for hospitalization, major bleeding, deep vein thrombosis, all-cause mortality, or adverse events compared with placebo or no treatment in nonhospitalized patients (low- to moderate-certainty evidence), but may reduce the incidence of pulmonary embolism and venous thromboembolism.[708] In people with mild disease, antiplatelet agents may result in little to no difference in 45-day mortality and serious adverse events, but may slightly reduce thrombotic events (low-certainty evidence).[709]

Highest-risk clinical groups

  • A UK advisory group has generated a list of conditions or cohorts who are at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 in the community, and who would therefore benefit from new treatments (e.g., antivirals, monoclonal antibodies). This list may be used when considering the use of these treatments in adults, and includes the following: Down syndrome and other genetic disorders; solid cancers; hematologic diseases and recipients of hematologic stem cell transplants; renal and liver diseases; solid organ transplant recipients; immune-mediated inflammatory disorders; respiratory diseases; immune deficiencies; HIV/AIDS; and rare neurologic and severe complex life-limiting neurodisability conditions.[710] Definitions may vary across other guidelines.

Severe COVID-19

Patients with suspected or confirmed severe disease are at risk of rapid clinical deterioration.[84] For disease severity definitions, see Criteria.

Location of care

  • Manage patients in an appropriate healthcare facility under the guidance of a specialist team.[84] 

    • The estimated length of hospital stay is more than 10 days (mean 15 days). However, the duration depends on various factors including age, country/region, and available resources.[711]

Assessment of frailty

  • Use the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) to assess baseline health and inform discussions on treatment expectations when appropriate and within an individualized assessment of frailty. Clinical Frailty Scale Opens in new window Do not use the CFS for younger people, or for people with stable long-term disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy), learning disabilities, or autism. Make an individualized assessment of frailty in these people, using clinical assessment and alternative scoring methods.[392] 

  • Evidence for the use of the CFS in COVID-19 is evolving despite limitations in the reporting on its application in practice.[712]

    • Patients with a score between 4-9 had significantly increased mortality compared with those with a score of 1-3 in one systematic review and meta-analysis.[713] Each 1-point increase in score was associated with a 12% increase in mortality.[714] However, another systematic review and meta-analysis found that there was no difference in short-term mortality between frail and nonfrail patients.[715] 

    • A more nuanced understanding of frailty and outcomes is needed, and caution is required in placing too much emphasis on the influence of frailty on the prognosis of older people.[716]

Oxygen

  • Start supplemental oxygen therapy immediately in any patient with emergency signs (i.e., obstructed or absent breathing, severe respiratory distress, central cyanosis, shock, coma and/or convulsions), or any patient without emergency signs and SpO₂ <90%.[84][390] 

    • There is no evidence of benefit for oxygen therapy in patients with COVID-19 in the absence of hypoxemia.[717] 

  • Target SpO₂ to ≥94% during resuscitation in adults and children with emergency signs who require emergency airway management and oxygen therapy. Once the patient is stable, a target SpO₂ >90% in children and nonpregnant adults, and ≥92% to 95% in pregnant women is recommended. Nasal prongs or a nasal cannula are preferred in young children.[84] 

    • Some guidelines recommend that SpO₂ should be maintained no higher than 96%.[718] 

    • Some centers may recommend different SpO₂ targets in order to support prioritization of oxygen flow for the most severely ill patients in hospital.

  • Consider positioning techniques (e.g., high supported sitting), and airway clearance management to optimize oxygenation and assist with secretion clearance in adults. Consider awake prone positioning (for 8-12 hours/day, broken into shorter periods over the day) in severely ill patients who require supplemental oxygen.[84][390]

    • Awake prone positioning reduced the risk of endotracheal intubation compared with usual care. However, it did not significantly reduce mortality, ventilator-free days, length of stay in the intensive care unit or hospital, or escalation of oxygen modality. Adverse events were uncommon.[719]

  • Monitor patients closely for signs of progressive acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Patients who continue to deteriorate despite standard oxygen therapy require advanced oxygen/ventilatory support.[84][390]

  • The World Health Organization recommends HFNO, continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], or noninvasive ventilation (helmet or face mask interface) in hospitalized patients with severe disease and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure not needing emergent intubation, rather than standard oxygen therapy. Choice depends on factors such as availability of devices and the supply of oxygen, personal comfort and experience, and patient-specific considerations (e.g., claustrophobia with CPAP or noninvasive ventilation masks, nasal discomfort with HFNO).[84]

Symptom management and supportive care

  • Fluids and electrolytes: use cautious fluid management in adults and children without tissue hypoperfusion and fluid responsiveness as aggressive fluid resuscitation may worsen oxygenation.[84] Correct any electrolyte or metabolic abnormalities, such as hyperglycemia or metabolic acidosis, according to local protocols.[720] 

  • Fever and pain: acetaminophen or ibuprofen are recommended.[84][392] Ibuprofen should only be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest period needed to control symptoms. 

  • Cough: short-term use of a cough suppressant may be considered in select patients (e.g., if the cough is distressing to the patient) provided there are no contraindications.[392] 

  • Breathlessness: keep the room cool, and encourage relaxation, breathing techniques, and changing body positions. Identify and treat any reversible causes of breathlessness (e.g., pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, COPD, asthma).[392]

  • Anxiety, delirium, and agitation: identify and treat any underlying or reversible causes (e.g., offer reassurance, treat hypoxia, correct metabolic or endocrine abnormalities, address coinfections, minimize use of drugs that may cause or worsen delirium, treat substance withdrawal, maintain normal sleep cycles, treat pain or breathlessness).[84][392] 

    • Low doses of haloperidol (or another suitable antipsychotic) can be considered for agitation.[84] 

    • Nonpharmacologic interventions are the mainstay for the management of delirium when possible, and prevention is key.[721]

  • Mouth care: an important part of overall patient care in hospitalized patients who are ventilated or nonventilated and those undergoing step-down or end-of-life care.[722]

  • Provide basic mental health and psychosocial support for all patients, and manage any symptoms of insomnia or depression as appropriate.[84]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis

  • Assess bleeding risk: assess the patient’s risk of bleeding as soon as possible after admission, or by the time of the first consultant review, using a suitable risk assessment tool.[392]

    • If the patient is already on anticoagulation for another underlying condition, continue the current treatment dose of the anticoagulant, unless contraindicated or there is a change in clinical circumstances (e.g., bleeding develops or risk of bleeding increases).[390][392][707] Consider switching to low molecular weight heparin if the patient’s clinical condition is deteriorating and the patient is not currently on low molecular weight heparin.[392]

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the use of oral anticoagulation prior to hospital admission was not associated with a reduced risk of intensive care unit admission and mortality. However, the review acknowledged that further trials are needed.[723]

  • Start VTE prophylaxis: start prophylaxis in all hospitalized patients, provided that there are no contraindications.[84][390][392][707]​ US guidelines recommend prophylactic anticoagulation for children ≥12 years of age unless it is contraindicated.[390] Start as soon as possible (within 14 hours of admission).[392]

    • A Cochrane review found that anticoagulants may reduce all‐cause mortality compared with no anticoagulants, but the evidence is very uncertain.[724]

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the pooled odds of mortality between anticoagulated and nonanticoagulated hospitalized patients were similar, but lower in the standard prophylactic-dose group. Prophylactic-dose anticoagulation significantly decreased the odds of in-hospital death by 17% compared with no anticoagulation.[725]

  • Choice of anticoagulant: low molecular weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, or fondaparinux are the recommended options. Low molecular weight heparin is preferred over unfractionated heparin and fondaparinux, unless contraindicated.[84][390][392] Fondaparinux is the recommended option in patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.[726] 

    • A meta-analysis found that low molecular weight heparin was associated with decreased intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, and mortality compared with unfractionated heparin in hospitalized patients, and there was no difference in the incidence of bleeding.[727]

    • Oral anticoagulants (including direct oral anticoagulants) are generally not recommended, except in the context of a clinical trial.[390][707]

    • Mechanical thromboprophylaxis (e.g., intermittent pneumatic compression device) is recommended if anticoagulants are contraindicated or not available.[726]

    • Consult a specialist for guidance on the choice and dose of anticoagulant in special patient populations (e.g., children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, hepatic or renal impairment, active cancer).

  • Dose of anticoagulant: standard prophylaxis doses are generally recommended over intermediate or therapeutic doses in patients without an established indication for higher-dose anticoagulation.[84][707] However, recommendations vary and you should consult your local guidance.

    • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends prophylaxis doses of low molecular weight heparin. However it also makes a conditional recommendation to consider treatment doses of low molecular weight heparin in those who may benefit. The decision should be carefully considered, and choice of the most appropriate dose regimen should be guided by bleeding risk, clinical judgment, and local protocols. For those who do not need supplemental oxygen, follow standard VTE prophylaxis guidelines.[392]

    • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends therapeutic doses of heparin for patients who have a D-dimer level above the upper limit of normal, require low-flow oxygen, and have no increased bleeding risk, unless a contraindication exists. The panel recommends using standard prophylaxis doses of heparin for patients who are not administered therapeutic doses, unless a contraindication exists.[390]

    • A Cochrane review found that higher-dose regimens resulted in little to no difference in all-cause mortality compared with lower-dose regimens in hospitalized patients; however, higher-dose regimens were associated with an increased risk of minor bleeding up to 30 days (high-certainty evidence). Higher-dose anticoagulants probably reduce pulmonary embolism and slightly increase major bleeding compared with lower-dose regimens up to 30 days (moderate-certainty evidence). Higher-dose anticoagulants may result in little or no difference in deep vein thrombosis, stroke, major adverse limb events, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, or thrombocytopenia compared with lower-dose regimens up to 30 days (low-certainty evidence).[724]

  • Duration of treatment: anticoagulation is generally continued until hospital discharge. Routine post-discharge VTE prophylaxis is generally not recommended, except in certain high-risk patients, in the context of a clinical trial, or if another indication for VTE prophylaxis exists.[84][390][707] However, in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends treatment for a minimum of 7 days, including after discharge, if standard prophylaxis doses of heparin are used.[392] If therapeutic doses of heparin are used, the recommended treatment duration is 14 days or until hospital discharge (or transfer to intensive care unit), whichever is sooner.[390][392] Oral rivaroxaban may be considered for post-discharge VTE prophylaxis.[707] 

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that extended thromboprophylaxis (with either a direct oral anticoagulant or low molecular weight heparin at prophylaxis doses) administered for <35 days was significantly associated with a reduced risk of thrombosis and all-cause mortality in patients post discharge who were at high risk of thromboembolism, without increasing the risk of major bleeding.[728]

  • Monitoring: monitor patients for signs and symptoms suggestive of thromboembolism and proceed with appropriate diagnostic and management pathways if clinically suspected.[84] See Complications. 

    • If the patient’s clinical condition changes, assess the risk of VTE, reassess the bleeding risk, and review VTE prophylaxis.[392] 

    • Monitoring of clinical parameters during thromboprophylaxis depends on the anticoagulant and dose used. Consult your local protocols for more information.

Antimicrobials

  • Consider empiric antibiotics if there is clinical suspicion of secondary bacterial infection. Give within 1 hour of initial assessment for patients with suspected sepsis or if the patient meets high-risk criteria (or within 4 hours of establishing a diagnosis of secondary bacterial pneumonia); do not wait for microbiology results. Base the regimen on the clinical diagnosis (e.g., community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, sepsis), local epidemiology and susceptibility data, and local treatment guidelines.[84][390][392] 

    • Do not offer antibiotics for preventing or treating pneumonia if SARS-CoV-2, another virus, or a fungal infection is likely to be the cause.[392] Guidelines recommend against empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics in the absence of a proven or suspected bacterial infection.[390]

  • Consider seeking specialist advice for people who: are immunocompromised; have a history of infection with resistant organisms; have a history of repeated infective exacerbations of lung disease; are pregnant; or are receiving advanced respiratory or organ support.[392]

    • Seek specialist advice if there is a suspicion that the person has an infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria and may need a different antibiotic, or there is clinical or microbiologic evidence of infection and the person's condition does not improve as expected after 48 to 72 hours of antibiotic treatment.

  • Reassess antibiotic use daily. De-escalate empiric therapy on the basis of microbiology results and clinical judgment. Regularly review the possibility of switching from intravenous to oral therapy. Duration of treatment should be as short as possible (e.g., 5 to 7 days). Antibiotic stewardship programs should be in place.[84] 

    • A meta-analysis found that the prevalence of antibiotic prescribing in patients with COVID-19 was 75%, which is significantly higher than the estimated prevalence of bacterial coinfection. Therefore, unnecessary antibiotic use is likely to be high in these patients.[729]

  • Treat laboratory-confirmed coinfections (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis, influenza) as appropriate according to local protocols.[84]

Corticosteroids

  • The WHO strongly recommends systemic corticosteroid therapy (low-dose intravenous or oral dexamethasone or hydrocortisone) for 7 to 10 days in adults with severe disease.[393][679][680] 

    • This recommendation is based on moderate-quality evidence that suggests systemic corticosteroids probably reduce 28-day mortality in patients with severe disease. There is no evidence directly comparing dexamethasone and hydrocortisone. The harms of treatment in this context are considered to be minor. It is unclear whether these recommendations can be applied to children or those who are immunocompromised.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends offering dexamethasone (or an alternative such as hydrocortisone or prednisone when dexamethasone cannot be used or is unavailable) for up to 10 days (unless there is a clear indication to stop early) to people who need supplemental oxygen to meet their prescribed oxygen saturation levels, or who have a level of hypoxia that needs supplemental oxygen but who are unable to have or tolerate it.[392]

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend dexamethasone (or an alternative corticosteroid if dexamethasone is not available) for up to 10 days or until hospital discharge in hospitalized adults who require supplemental oxygen. It may be given alone or in combination with remdesivir.[390][682]

    • Corticosteroids are not routinely recommended for children who require only low levels of oxygen support (i.e., via a nasal cannula only). Use of dexamethasone for the treatment of severe disease in children who are profoundly immunocompromised has not been evaluated, may be harmful, and therefore should be considered only on a case-by-case basis.

  • Evidence supports the use of corticosteroids in hospitalized patients.

    • A Cochrane review found that systemic corticosteroids probably slightly reduce all-cause mortality up to 30 days in hospitalized patients with symptomatic disease (moderate-certainty evidence), although the evidence is very uncertain about the effect on all-cause mortality up to 120 days. Evidence related to the most effective type, dose, or timing of corticosteroid is uncertain.[730]

    • A living systematic review and network meta-analysis found that corticosteroids probably reduce mortality compared with standard care.[731][732]

    • Evidence suggests that higher doses may be superior to lower doses in reducing mortality in patients with severe or critical disease.[733]​ However, the RECOVERY trial found that higher-dose corticosteroids significantly increased the risk of death compared with usual care (which included low-dose corticosteroids) in hospitalized patients who required either no oxygen or simple oxygen only. The study continues to assess higher doses in hospitalized patients who require noninvasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).[734]

    • Evidence also suggests that shorter treatment courses may optimize the mortality benefit in hospitalized patients. An optimal duration of treatment was <7 days in one meta-analysis, with no additional survival benefit reported with ≥7 days of treatment.[735]

  • Monitor patients for adverse effects (e.g., hyperglycemia, secondary infections, psychiatric effects, reactivation of latent infections) and assess for drug-drug interactions. Patients who are already receiving corticosteroid treatment for an underlying condition should continue treatment.[390] 

Antivirals

  • The World Health Organization conditionally recommends the intravenous antiviral remdesivir for 5 to 10 days in adults with severe disease. It should be initiated as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms.[393][679][680] 

    • This recommendation is based on low-certainty evidence that suggests remdesivir possibly reduces mortality, and moderate-certainty evidence that suggests it probably reduces the need for mechanical ventilation. Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that remdesivir probably has little or no impact on time to symptom improvement. There is insufficient evidence to make a recommendation around use in children.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends considering remdesivir for up to 5 days in hospitalized adults and children ≥12 years of age (weighing ≥40 kg) who require low-flow supplemental oxygen.[392] 

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend remdesivir for 5 days or until hospital discharge (whichever comes first) in hospitalized children and adults who require supplemental oxygen. It may be given alone (e.g., for patients who require minimal supplemental oxygen) or in combination with dexamethasone (e.g., for patients who require increasing amounts of supplemental oxygen).[390][682] 

    • The panel also recommends remdesivir alone in hospitalized children ages 12 to 17 years who have risk factors for severe disease but do not require supplemental oxygen.

  • The recommended treatment course is 5 to 10 days or until hospital discharge, whichever comes first.[390][392][393] 

    • Evidence does not suggest any greater benefit with a 10-day course of remdesivir compared with a 5-day course, but suggests an increased risk of harm.[392] However, some experts may recommend a 10-day course in patients who have not shown substantial clinical improvement by day 5.[390]

    • There may be no benefit in completing the full course of remdesivir if the patient progresses.[392] However, US guidelines recommend completing the full treatment course if the patient progresses to requiring high-flow oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.[390]

  • Despite guidelines recommending the use of remdesivir in patients with severe disease, evidence for its use is conflicting.

    • A Cochrane review found that remdesivir probably has little or no effect on all-cause mortality (up to 150 days) in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe disease compared with placebo or usual care (moderate-certainty evidence). Remdesivir probably increases the chance of clinical improvement up to day 28 slightly, and decreases the risk of clinical worsening within 28 days (moderate-certainty evidence).[736]

    • A 1-year follow-up of hospitalized patients in a randomized controlled trial found no long-term benefits (quality-of-life or symptom outcomes) for remdesivir compared with standard of care.[737]

  • Oral antivirals (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir) are not currently recommended in patients with severe disease. However, there is emerging observational evidence for their use in hospitalized patients.[738]

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors

  • The WHO strongly recommends a single dose of an IL-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab or sarilumab) in adults with severe disease. IL-6 inhibitors may be administered in combination with corticosteroids and Janus kinase inhibitors, and should be initiated at the same time as corticosteroids.[393][679][680] 

    • This recommendation is based on high-certainty evidence that shows IL-6 inhibitors reduce mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation, and low-certainty evidence that suggests that IL-6 inhibitors may also reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization. The evidence regarding the risk of severe adverse events is uncertain. The applicability of this recommendation to children is currently uncertain.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends a single dose of tocilizumab in hospitalized adults who are having systemic corticosteroids and need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.[392][681]​ 

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend a single dose of tocilizumab (or sarilumab if tocilizumab is not available or not feasible to use) in hospitalized adults on a corticosteroid with rapidly increasing oxygen needs and systemic inflammation.[390][682]

  • Evidence supports the use of IL-6 inhibitors.

    • A Cochrane review found that tocilizumab reduced all-cause mortality at day 28 (high-certainty evidence) compared with standard care alone or placebo. The evidence suggests uncertainty around the effect of tocilizumab on mortality after day 60. Evidence for an effect on these outcomes for sarilumab is very uncertain. Tocilizumab and sarilumab probably result in little or no increase in clinical improvement at day 28 (i.e., hospital discharge or improvement measured by trialist-defined scales) (moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence for clinical improvement after day 60 is very uncertain for both drugs.[739]  [ Cochrane Clinical Answers logo ]

    • A living systematic review and network meta-analysis found that IL-6 inhibitors (with corticosteroids) probably reduce mortality (moderate-certainty evidence), are likely to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation (moderate-certainty evidence), and may reduce the duration of hospitalization (moderate-certainty evidence) compared with standard care.[731][732] 

    • IL-6 inhibitors may not be beneficial when used alone (without corticosteroids).[740]

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors

  • The WHO strongly recommends an oral JAK inhibitor (baricitinib) for 14 days or until hospital discharge (whichever is first) in adults with severe disease. Baricitinib may be administered in combination with corticosteroids and IL-6 inhibitors, and should be initiated at the same time as systemic corticosteroids.[393][679][680] 

    • This recommendation is based on high-certainty evidence that baricitinib reduces mortality, and moderate-certainty evidence that baricitinib probably reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of hospital stay. The applicability of this recommendation to children is currently uncertain.

    • The WHO recommends against using other drugs within this class (tofacitinib and ruxolitinib) unless baricitinib or IL-6 inhibitors are not available as the effects of tofacitinib or ruxolitinib on mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, and hospital length of stay remain uncertain and more trial evidence is needed.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends baricitinib in hospitalized adults who: need supplemental oxygen, and are having or have completed a course of corticosteroids (unless contraindicated), and have no evidence of infection (other than SARS-CoV-2) that might be worsened by baricitinib. It may also be considered in children ≥2 years of age provided they meet the same criteria.[392] 

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend baricitinib (or tofacitinib if baricitinib is not available or not feasible to use) in hospitalized adults on a corticosteroid with rapidly increasing oxygen needs and systemic inflammation.[390][682] 

  • Evidence supports the use of JAK inhibitors.

    • A Cochrane review found that JAK inhibitors probably reduced all-cause mortality up to day 28 (moderate-certainty evidence) and up to day 60 (high-certainty evidence). They probably make little or no difference in improvement in clinical status or the rate of adverse events (moderate-certainty evidence). Baricitinib was the most often evaluated JAK inhibitor.[741]

    • A living systematic review and network meta-analysis found that JAK inhibitors probably reduce mortality (high-certainty evidence), reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation (high-certainty evidence), and reduce length of hospital stay (high-certainty evidence) compared with standard care.[731][732] 

Monoclonal antibodies

  • Recommendations for monoclonal antibodies in patients with severe disease differ from the recommendations for patients with mild to moderate disease. Key international guidelines do not currently recommend monoclonal antibodies for patients with severe disease.

    • The World Health Organization strongly recommends against the use of casirivimab/imdevimab for patients with any disease severity. The agency makes no other recommendations either for or against the use of other monoclonal antibodies in patients with severe disease.[393][679][680] 

    • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends not offering casirivimab/imdevimab to patients who are known or suspected to have infection caused by an Omicron variant.[392] 

    • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel states that monoclonal antibodies are not currently authorized for use in hospitalized patients with severe disease. However, they may be available through expanded access programs for patients who are hospitalized with severe disease and who are immunocompromised.[390]

  • Evidence for the use of monoclonal antibodies in hospitalized patients is uncertain.

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled trials found that monoclonal antibodies had limited effects on most of the outcomes in hospitalized patients with the certainty of evidence ranging from very low to moderate for most outcomes. Monoclonal antibodies slightly reduced mechanical ventilation and bacteremia, but there were no effects on mortality.[706]

Monitoring

  • Monitor patients closely for signs of clinical deterioration, and respond immediately with appropriate supportive care interventions.[84] 

Discharge and rehabilitation

  • Routinely assess older patients for mobility, functional swallow, cognitive impairment, and mental health concerns, and based on that assessment determine whether the patient is ready for discharge, and whether the patient has any rehabilitation and follow-up requirements.[84]

Palliative care

  • Palliative care interventions should be made accessible at each institution that provides care for patients with COVID-19. Identify whether the patient has an advance care plan and respect the patient’s priorities and preferences when formulating the patient’s care plan.[84] Follow local palliative care guidelines. 

  • There is a lack of data on palliative care in patients with COVID-19.

    • A rapid systematic review of pharmacologic strategies used for palliative care in these patients, the first international review of its kind, found that a higher proportion of patients required continuous subcutaneous infusions for medication delivery than is typically seen in the palliative care population. Modest doses of commonly used end-of-life medications were required for symptom control. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of data available.[742]

Critical COVID-19

Patients with critical disease (i.e., presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, or septic shock) should be admitted or transferred to an intensive/critical care unit. For disease severity definitions, see Criteria.

Use existing care bundles (i.e., three or more evidence-informed practices delivered together and consistently to improve care), chosen locally by the hospital or intensive care unit and adapted as necessary for local circumstances.[84] 

Location of care

  • Manage patients in an intensive/critical care unit under the guidance of a specialist team.[84]

    • Patients admitted to intensive care units had a median length of stay of 23 days (range 12-32 days).[743] The most common reasons for admission were hypoxemic respiratory failure leading to mechanical ventilation and hypotension.[744]

  • Discuss the risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of treatment options with patients and their families, and allow them to express preferences about their management. Take their wishes and expectations into account when considering the ceiling of treatment. Use decision support tools if available. Put treatment escalation plans in place, and discuss any existing advance care plans or advance decisions to refuse treatment with patients who have preexisting advanced comorbidities.[392]

HFNO or noninvasive ventilation

  • The World Health Organization recommends HFNO, CPAP, or noninvasive ventilation (helmet or face mask interface) in hospitalized patients with critical disease and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure not needing emergent intubation, rather than standard oxygen therapy.[84]

    • Choice depends on factors such as availability of devices and the supply of oxygen, personal comfort and experience, and patient-specific considerations (e.g., claustrophobia with CPAP or noninvasive ventilation masks, nasal discomfort with HFNO).

    • Consider awake prone positioning (for 8-12 hours/day, broken into shorter periods over the day) in severely ill patients who require HFNO or noninvasive ventilation.

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends CPAP in patients with hypoxemia that is not responding to supplemental oxygen with a fraction of inspired oxygen of ≥0.4 (40%), and escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation would be an option but it is not immediately needed or it is agreed that respiratory support should not be escalated beyond CPAP.[392]

    • Ensure there is access to critical care providers for advice, regular review, and prompt escalation of treatment if needed, and regular assessment and management of symptoms alongside noninvasive respiratory support.

    • Consider using HFNO for people when: they cannot tolerate CPAP but need humidified oxygen at high flow rates; maximal conventional oxygen is not maintaining their target oxygen saturations and they do not need immediate invasive mechanical ventilation or escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation is not suitable, and CPAP is not suitable; or they need a break from CPAP (e.g., mealtimes, skin pressure relief, mouth care), need humidified oxygen or nebulizers (or both), or need weaning from CPAP.

    • Do not routinely offer HFNO as the main form of respiratory support for people with respiratory failure in whom escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation would be appropriate.

    • Optimize pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management strategies in people who need noninvasive respiratory support.

    • Consider awake prone positioning for hospitalized patients who are not intubated and have higher oxygen needs.

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends HFNO over noninvasive ventilation in adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure despite conventional oxygen therapy.[390]

    • The panel recommends a closely monitored trial of noninvasive ventilation in adults if HFNO is not available. A trial of awake prone positioning is recommended in adults with persistent hypoxemia who require HFNO and for whom endotracheal intubation is not indicated.

    • A time-limited trial of either noninvasive ventilation or HFNO is recommended in infants and children with persistent respiratory failure despite conventional oxygen therapy who have no indicators for endotracheal intubation. There is insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against a trial of awake prone positioning in children.

    • The panel recommends against using awake prone positioning as a rescue therapy for refractory hypoxemia to avoid intubation in patients who otherwise meet the indications for intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation.

  • Evidence for noninvasive ventilation is limited.

    • There is no certain evidence that noninvasive respiratory support increases or decreases mortality in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory failure.[745]

    • Limited evidence suggests that noninvasive ventilation reduces the need for intubation, improves resource utilization, may be associated with better outcomes, and is safe.[746]

    • Indirect and low-certainty evidence suggests that noninvasive ventilation probably reduces mortality, similar to invasive mechanical ventilation, but may increase the risk of viral transmission. HFNO may reduce mortality compared with no HFNO.[747][748]

    • HFNO was superior to noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure in terms of decreasing mortality. However, there was no significant difference in intubation rates and length of hospital stay between the two groups.[749][750]

    • HFNO may reduce intubation rate and 28-day intensive care unit mortality, and may improve 28-day ventilator-free days compared with conventional oxygen therapy in patients with acute respiratory failure. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are necessary.[751]

    • The RECOVERY-RS trial (an open-label, multicenter, adaptive randomized controlled trial) found that CPAP reduced the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in adults admitted to hospital with acute respiratory failure. Neither CPAP nor HFNO reduced mortality when compared with conventional oxygen therapy.[752]

    • The HELMET-COVID trial (a multicenter randomized clinical trial) found that helmet noninvasive ventilation did not significantly reduce 28-day mortality compared with usual respiratory support (alternate use of mask noninvasive ventilation, HFNO, or standard oxygen according to clinical response) among patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. However, there were several important limitations to the study, and interpretation of the findings is limited by imprecision in the effect size estimate.[753]

    • The SOHO-COVID trial (a randomized clinical trial) found that HFNO did not significantly reduce 28-day mortality compared with standard oxygen therapy among patients with respiratory failure.[754] However, another randomized controlled trial found that treatment with HFNO reduced the likelihood of invasive mechanical ventilation and decreased the time to clinical recovery compared with conventional low-flow oxygen therapy in patients with severe disease.[755]

  • Airborne precautions are recommended for these interventions (including bubble CPAP) due to uncertainty about the potential for aerosolization.[84] 

    • CPAP and HFNO do not appear to be associated with significant additional air or surface viral contamination compared with supplemental oxygen.[756]

  • Patients with hypercapnia, hemodynamic instability, multi-organ failure, or abnormal mental status should generally not receive HFNO, although emerging data suggests that it may be safe in patients with mild to moderate and nonworsening hypercapnia. Patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure and hemodynamic instability, multi-organ failure, or abnormal mental status should not receive these treatments in place of other options such as invasive ventilation.[84] 

  • Monitor patients closely for acute deterioration. If patients do not improve after a short trial of these interventions they require urgent endotracheal intubation.[84][718] 

  • More detailed guidance on the management of ARDS in COVID-19 is beyond the scope of this topic; consult a specialist for further guidance.

Mechanical ventilation

  • Consider endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in patients who are acutely deteriorating despite advanced oxygen/noninvasive ventilatory support measures.[84][390] 

    • Use of mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients carries a high risk of mortality. Mortality is highly variable across studies, ranging between 21% and 100%. An overall in-hospital mortality risk ratio of 0.70 has been reported based on random-effect pooled estimates. Outcomes appear to have improved as the pandemic has progressed.[757] However, results have not been consistent.[758]

    • Early intubation may be associated with lower all-cause mortality compared with patients undergoing late intubation. However, again, results have not been consistent.[759][760]

  • Endotracheal intubation should be performed by an experienced provider using airborne precautions.[84]

    • Intubation by video laryngoscopy is recommended if possible.[390] 

    • Young children, or adults who are obese or pregnant, may desaturate quickly during intubation and therefore require preoxygenation with 100% FiO₂ for 5 minutes.[84] 

    • Cuffed endotracheal tubes are preferred over uncuffed endotracheal tubes in children.[390]

  • Mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS should receive a lung-protective, low tidal volume/low inspiratory pressure ventilation strategy (lower targets are recommended in children). A higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) strategy is preferred over a lower PEEP strategy in moderate to severe ARDS. However, individualization of PEEP, where the patient is monitored for beneficial or harmful effects and driving pressure during titration with consideration of the risks and benefits of PEEP titration, is recommended.[84][390][718] 

    • Although some patients with COVID-19 pneumonia meet the criteria for ARDS, there has been some discussion about whether COVID-19 pneumonia is its own specific disease with atypical phenotypes. Anecdotal evidence from early in the pandemic suggested that the main characteristic of the atypical presentation was the dissociation between well-preserved lung mechanics and the severity of hypoxemia.[761][762][763][764][765][766] However, this hypothesis was criticized.[767][768] A systematic review and meta-analysis published in late 2022 found no evidence for distinct respiratory system static compliance-based clinical phenotypes in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS.[769] 

    • It has been argued that an evidence-based approach extrapolating data from ARDS not related to COVID-19 is the most reasonable approach for intensive care of COVID-19 patients.[770] However, some clinicians have warned that protocol-driven ventilator use may cause lung injury in some patients, and that ventilator settings should be based on physiologic findings rather than using standard protocols. High PEEP may have a detrimental effect on patients with normal compliance.[761] Therefore, PEEP should always be carefully titrated.[771]

  • Consider prone ventilation in patients with severe ARDS for 12 to 16 hours per day. Pregnant women in the third trimester may benefit from being placed in the lateral decubitus position. Caution is required in children.[84][390][718] Longer durations may be feasible in some patients.[772] 

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that there was no significant difference in mortality between prone and supine positioning, and that hospital stay was significantly higher in the prone position group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of length of stay in the intensive care unit and days of mechanical ventilation.[773]

  • Lung recruitment maneuvers are suggested, but staircase recruitment maneuvers are not recommended.[390][718]

  • More detailed guidance on the management of ARDS in COVID-19, including sedation and the use of neuromuscular blockade during ventilation, is beyond the scope of this topic; consult a specialist for further guidance.

Inhaled pulmonary vasodilator

  • Consider a trial of an inhaled pulmonary vasodilator in adults and children who have severe ARDS and refractory hypoxemia despite optimizing ventilation. Taper off if there is no rapid improvement in oxygenation.[390][718]

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis found that inhaled pulmonary vasodilators may improve oxygenation, but showed no mortality benefit, compared with standard therapy.[774]

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

  • Consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) according to availability and expertise if the above methods fail.[84][718] 

  • There is insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the routine use of ECMO.[390] 

    • A registry-based cohort study found that ECMO was associated with a 7.1% reduction in mortality in selected adults (i.e., PaO₂/FiO₂ <80 mmHg) with COVID-19-associated respiratory failure, compared with conventional mechanical ventilation without ECMO. It was most effective in patients ages <65 years and those with a PaO₂/FiO₂ <80 mmHg or with driving pressures >15 cm H₂O during the first 10 days of mechanical ventilation.[775] 

    • Pooled mortality rates in adults receiving ECMO ranged from 39% to 49%.[776][777] The mortality rate in children was 26.6%.[778]​ Factors associated with an increased risk of mortality included older age, male sex, chronic lung disease, longer duration of symptoms, longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, higher driving pressure, and higher partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide.[779]

    • There is a high risk of thrombotic and neurologic complications (e.g., circuit thrombosis, major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and hypoxic ischemic brain injury) in patients on ECMO.[780][781][782]​​​

Management of septic shock/sepsis

  • The management of sepsis and septic shock in patients with COVID-19 is beyond the scope of this topic. See Complications.

Symptom management and supportive care

  • Consider fluid and electrolyte management, antimicrobial treatment, and symptom management as appropriate (see Severe COVID-19 above).

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

  • Recommendations for VTE prophylaxis in patients with critical disease may differ from those for severe disease (see above). Consult your local guidelines.

    • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends a prophylactic dose of a low molecular weight heparin to young people and adults who need HFNO, CPAP, noninvasive ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation, and who do not have an increased bleeding risk. An intermediate or treatment dose of a low molecular weight heparin is only recommended in these patients as part of a clinical trial.[392]

    • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends prophylactic-dose heparin (low molecular weight heparin preferred over unfractionated heparin) for patients who are receiving intensive care unit level of care (including patients receiving high-flow oxygen), unless there is a contraindication. The panel recommends against the use of intermediate-dose and therapeutic-dose anticoagulation in these patients, except in the context of a clinical trial. Patients who start on therapeutic-dose heparin while in a non-intensive care unit setting and then transfer to the intensive care unit should be switched from therapeutic to prophylactic-dose heparin unless venous thromboembolism is confirmed. There is insufficient evidence for the panel to recommend either for or against antiplatelet therapy in critically ill patients.[390]

  • Evidence for VTE prophylaxis is limited in patients with critical disease.

    • A systematic review and meta-analysis of nearly 28,000 hospitalized patients found that both intermediate-dose and therapeutic-dose anticoagulation decreased the risk of thrombotic events in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit compared with prophylactic-dose anticoagulation, but these regimens were associated with an increased bleeding risk and unchanged in-hospital mortality.[783]

    • Another smaller systematic review and meta-analysis found no difference between escalated doses and standard prophylaxis dosing in terms of impact on mortality in critically ill patients. However, there was a reduced risk of pulmonary embolism in the escalated dose group.[784]

Corticosteroids

  • The WHO strongly recommends systemic corticosteroid therapy (low-dose intravenous or oral dexamethasone or hydrocortisone) for 7 to 10 days in adults with critical disease.

    • This recommendation is based on moderate-quality evidence that suggests systemic corticosteroids probably reduce 28-day mortality in patients with critical disease. They also probably reduce the need for invasive ventilation.[393] 

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends dexamethasone (or a suitable alternative corticosteroid) in combination with baricitinib or tocilizumab (or dexamethasone alone if a second immunomodulator cannot be obtained), in hospitalized adults who require high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation. Remdesivir may be added in certain situations.[390]

    • In adults who are on mechanical ventilation or ECMO, the panel recommends dexamethasone in combination with baricitinib or tocilizumab (or dexamethasone alone if a second immunomodulator cannot be obtained) for patients who are within 24 hours of admission to the intensive care unit.

    • The panel recommends using dexamethasone (with or without remdesivir) in hospitalized children who require high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation, or dexamethasone alone in hospitalized children who require invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

  • See the corticosteroids section under Severe COVID-19 above for more information.

Antivirals

  • There are conflicting recommendations across international guidelines about the use of remdesivir in patients with critical disease. Remdesivir may increase the risk of death in critically ill patients, and for this reason the World Health Organization and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommend against the use of remdesivir in patients with critical disease.[392][393] Currently, only US guidelines recommend its use in select patients. Consult your local guidance for more information.

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends remdesivir for 5 days or until hospital discharge (whichever comes first), in combination with dexamethasone, in hospitalized children and adults who require high-flow oxygen or noninvasive ventilation.[390] 

    • Remdesivir is only recommended in certain patients. Examples of those who may benefit the most include: immunocompromised patients; those with ongoing evidence of viral replication; or patients who are ≤10 days from symptom onset.

    • The panel does not recommend starting remdesivir in patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO. However, the panel does recommend completing the full treatment course of remdesivir if the patient is started on it when they are on supplemental low-flow oxygen and then progress to requiring high-flow oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors

  • The WHO strongly recommends an IL-6 inhibitor (tocilizumab or sarilumab) in adults with critical disease.[393][679][680]

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends a single dose of tocilizumab in hospitalized adults who are having systemic corticosteroids and need supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.[392][681]

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend adding tocilizumab (or sarilumab if tocilizumab is not available or not feasible to use) to dexamethasone (or a suitable alternative corticosteroid) or dexamethasone plus remdesivir in children ≥2 years of age and adults who require noninvasive mechanical ventilation or HFNO and have been recently hospitalized (e.g., within 3 days) with rapidly increasing oxygen needs and systemic inflammation.[390][682]

    • In patients who are on mechanical ventilation or ECMO, the panel recommends adding tocilizumab to dexamethasone for patients who are within 24 hours of admission to the intensive care unit.

  • See the IL-6 inhibitors section under Severe COVID-19 above for more information.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors

  • The WHO strongly recommends an oral JAK inhibitor (baricitinib) in adults with critical disease.[393][679][680]

  • In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends baricitinib in hospitalized adults who: need supplemental oxygen, and are having or have completed a course of corticosteroids (unless contraindicated), and have no evidence of infection (other than SARS-CoV-2) that might be worsened by baricitinib. It may also be considered in children ≥2 years of age provided they meet the same criteria.[392]

  • In the US, the National Institutes of Health guidelines panel recommends adding baricitinib (or tofacitinib if baricitinib is not available or not feasible to use) to dexamethasone (or a suitable alternative corticosteroid) or dexamethasone plus remdesivir in children ≥2 years of age and adults who require noninvasive mechanical ventilation or HFNO and have been recently hospitalized with rapidly increasing oxygen needs and systemic inflammation.[390] 

    • In patients who are on mechanical ventilation or ECMO, the panel recommends adding baricitinib to dexamethasone for patients who are within 24 hours of admission to the intensive care unit.

  • See the JAK inhibitors section under Severe COVID-19 above for more information.

Discharge and rehabilitation

  • Routinely assess intensive care patients for mobility, functional swallow, cognitive impairment, and mental health concerns, and based on that assessment determine whether the patient is ready for discharge, and whether the patient has any rehabilitation and follow-up requirements.[84] 

Palliative care

  • Palliative care interventions should be made accessible at each institution that provides care for patients with COVID-19. Identify whether the patient has an advance care plan and respect the patient’s priorities and preferences when formulating the patient’s care plan.[84] Follow local palliative care guidelines.

  • There is a lack of data on palliative care in patients with COVID-19.

    • A Cochrane review found very low-certainty evidence for the efficacy of pharmacologic interventions for palliative symptom relief, and no evidence on the safety of pharmacologic interventions or safety and efficacy of nonpharmacologic interventions for palliative symptom control. More evidence is needed to guide end-of-life management.[785]

    • A rapid systematic review of pharmacologic strategies used for palliative care in these patients, the first international review of its kind, found that a higher proportion of patients required continuous subcutaneous infusions for medication delivery than is typically seen in the palliative care population. Modest doses of commonly used end-of-life medications were required for symptom control. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of data available.[742]

Management of pregnant women

Pregnant women should be managed by a multidisciplinary team, including obstetric, perinatal, neonatal, and intensive care specialists, as well as midwifery and mental health and psychosocial support. A woman-centered, respectful, skilled approach to care is recommended.[84] 

Pregnant women can generally be treated with the same supportive therapies as for nonpregnant adults, taking into account the physiologic changes that occur with pregnancy.[84] However, VTE prophylaxis recommendations may differ, and the safety of antivirals in pregnancy has not been established. Despite this, it is important that pregnant women are not denied treatment inappropriately.[786]

There is significant heterogeneity in several aspects of management of pregnant women across clinical practice guidelines, especially regarding follow-up after infection and timing of delivery. However, there is a general agreement in the criteria for maternal hospitalization and mode of delivery.[787] 

Follow your local infection prevention and control procedures during labor and delivery and for newborn care. The WHO recommends that mothers and infants should remain together unless the mother is too sick to care for her baby. Breastfeeding should be encouraged while applying appropriate infection prevention and control measures (e.g., hand hygiene before and after contact with the baby, wearing a mask while breastfeeding).[84]

A detailed discussion of the management of pregnant women is beyond the scope of this topic. Consult your local protocols for more information.

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