Aim: To determine the effects of prone position in patients with COVID-19.

Study design: Retrospective/observational study

Place and duration of study: Department of Medicine Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot and its related ICU from 1st November 2020 to 30th April 2021

Methodology: Fifty patients of respiratory failure admitted to ICU were included in this study. Patient’s details demographics age, sex and body mass index were recorded after taking informed written consent. Patients were aged between 25-80years.Patients were divided in to two groups I and II. Group I had 25 COVID-19 patients underwent prone position and group II with 25 patients taken as control. Chest x-ray of both groups was taken. Patients of group I were kept in prone position while group II received invasive ventilation and follow up was taken in duration of 15-days.

Results: There were majority of males, 40 (80%) and rest females 10 (20%). Mean age of the patients in prone positioning group was 50.3±18.22 years with mean BMI 26.14±7.13 kg/m2 and in control group it was 51.5±18.22 years with mean BMI 26.41±7.13 kg/m2.Thirty (60%) patients had moderate and 20 (40%) had severe covid-19 disease. Mean duration of prone position was 5.14±6.31 hours. Most of the patients 42 (84%) had bilateral lung involvement, interstitial infiltrates 55 (90%). Fever, cough and dyspnea were the most common symptom found in both groups. Mean PF ratio was increases in prone group as compared to controlled group. Mean hospital stay in group I was 6.9±18.8 days and in group II mean hospital stay was 9.7±13.2 days.

Conclusion: The use of prone position among patients of COVID-19 was effective and safe method to reduce intubation, mortality and hospital stay. There was no any complication were found after this treatment.

Keywords: Prone Position, Covid-19, Respiratory Failure, Mortality