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Abstract Background Although ROX index is frequently used to assess the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula treatment in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) patients, the relationship between the ROX index and the mortality remains unclear. Therefore, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the ability of the ROX index to predict mortality risk in patients with AHRF. Method Patients diagnosed with AHRF were extracted from the MIMIC-IV database and divided into four groups based on the ROX index quartiles. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, while in-hospital mortality and follow-up mortality were secondary outcomes. To investigate the association between ROX index and mortality in AHRF patients, restricted cubic spline curve and COX proportional risk regression were utilized. Result A non-linear association (L-shaped) has been observed between the ROX index and mortality rate. When the ROX index is below 8.28, there is a notable decline in the 28-day mortality risk of patients as the ROX index increases (HR per SD, 0.858 95%CI 0.794–0.928 P < 0.001). When the ROX index is above 8.28, no significant association was found between the ROX index and 28-day mortality. In contrast to the Q1 group, the mortality rates in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups had a substantial reduction (Q1 vs. Q2: HR, 0.749 0.590–0.950 P = 0.017; Q3: HR, 0.711 0.558–0.906 P = 0.006; Q4: HR, 0.641 0.495–0.830 P < 0.001). Conclusion The ROX index serves as a valuable predictor of mortality risk in adult patients with AHRF, and that a lower ROX index is substantially associated with an increase in mortality.
Liu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.