Acute Brain Injury in COVID-19 Versus Influenza A Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry
Main finding · ABIResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 0.83 95% CI 0.44–1.54Authors' conclusion
COVID-19 and H1N1 patients on venovenous ECMO exhibited similar ABI frequency, which was twice that observed in the general historical ARDS patients supported on venovenous ECMO population.
Study context
- Population
- Patients ≥18 years with COVID-19 or H1N1 requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), up to 534 ECMO centres, 2009–2021674 matched
- Participants
- 2,253 patients
- Exposure
- COVID-19 vs H1N1-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on venovenous ECMO
- COVID-19n = 337
- H1N1n = 337reference
- Outcome
- Acute brain injury (ABI)
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched, multivariable logistic regression, registry (ELSO)
- Propensity-score matched
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Registry (ELSO)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted odds ratio
0.83
95% CI 0.44–1.54
P = 0.53
By group
COVID-19 vs H1N1
aOR 0.83 (95% CI 0.44–1.54); P = 0.53
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrombotic complicationsMatched cohort | 0.67 (0.44–1.02) | P = 0.06 | |
| Hemorrhagic complicationsFewer in COVID-19 · matched cohort | 0.27 (0.17–0.42) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.10.31310Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Mortality
| aOR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| COVIDHigher in COVID vs H1N1 · matched cohort | 2.17 (1.45–3.23) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Mortality | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Mortality, ABI vs no ABI (subgroup by infection)COVID: ABI vs COVID: no ABI | 94% vs. 40% | P < 0.001 |
| Mortality, ABI vs no ABI (subgroup by infection)H1N1: ABI vs H1N1: no ABI | 75% vs. 29% | P < 0.001 |
Safety
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrombotic complications | 0.67 (0.44–1.02) | P = 0.06 | |
| Hemorrhagic complicationsFewer in COVID-19 | 0.27 (0.17–0.42) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.10.31310Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Acute Brain Injury in COVID-19 Versus Influenza A Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry. Crit Care Med. Published 24 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →