Using existing treatment earlier saves COVID-19 patients’ lives

The lives of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are being saved by doctors using an existing medical treatment at an earlier stage.

Dr Luigi Sedda of Lancaster University analyzed the results from the team at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WWL). Their research has now been published in the medical journal BMJ Respiratory Open.

CPAP treatment, often used at home to help people with sleep problems, helps to keep the lungs open and makes breathing easier.

He said: “We show that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the first days of hospitalization seems to save between 10% to 20% of patients. However, it is important to underline that this was a pilot study with a small sample size, although comforting evidence is starting to emerge elsewhere.”

According to NHS England, 96% of people who died with Covid had at least one serious health condition and the majority are over the age of 80.