This study was aimed to study the curative effect of humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy on acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.

Between October 2017 and February 2020, 60 patients with AECOPD and type Ⅱ respiratory failure diagnosed and treated in the hospital were enrolled in this study. They were divided into oxygen therapy group 28 cases and control group 32 cases based on the non-randomized clinical concurrent controlled trail and the patient voluntary principle. The control group received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, while the oxygen therapy group received humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. The two groups were compared in terms of blood gas analysis, inflammatory factors, and vital signs before and after treatment, clinical effects, and comfort.

After treatment, no significant differences were found in response rate and pH value between the two groups (P>0.05). Blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) significantly increased, while the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) significantly decreased. Besides, changes were greater in the oxygen therapy group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and procalcitonin (PCT) decreased significantly, and decreases were greater in the oxygen therapy group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the oxygen therapy group had higher comfort scores and lower respiratory distress scores than the control group (P<0.05).

The above results suggest that applying humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in the treatment of AECOPD with type Ⅱ respiratory failure can effectively improve blood gas indexes, reduce RR and HR, relieve inflammatory response, and improve patient comfort, with good overall effect.