COVID-19 managed on respiratory wards and intensive care units: Results from the national COVID-19 outcome report in Wales from March 2020 to December 2021.

Background: A COVID-19 hospital guideline was implemented across all 18 acute hospitals in Wales in March 2020, promoting ward management of COVID pneumonitis and data collected across the first 3 Waves of the pandemic (Wave 1 March 1st 2020 to November 1st 2020, Wave 2 November 2st 2020 to February 21st 2021 and Wave 3 June 1st 2021 to December 14th 2021). The aim of this paper is to compare outcomes for patients by admission setting and type of ventilatory support given, with a particular focus on CPAP therapy.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of those aged over 18 admitted to hospital with community acquired COVID-19 between March 2020 and December 2021.