A recent research study, UK-ROX, has achieved significant success in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The study investigated the clinical and cost-effectiveness of adopting a more conservative approach to oxygen therapy for ventilated adults in critical care.
Supplemental oxygen is routinely administered to patients in intensive care; however, there has long been limited evidence to guide optimal usage and reduce the potential risks associated with providing either too little or too much oxygen. The UK-ROX trial aimed to address this important question.
This multicentre, pragmatic, randomised clinical trial was conducted across 97 ICUs in the UK, involving 16,500 mechanically ventilated patients receiving supplemental oxygen.
Participants were enrolled between May 2021 and November 2024, with follow-up completed in February 2025.
At County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), a total of 182 patients were recruited to the study. The work was coordinated by Clare Hutton, Clinical Research Nurse in Critical Care, who played a key role in supporting the successful delivery of the trial at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
The outcomes of the UK-ROX study will help to inform future best practice in oxygen therapy, ensuring safer and more effective care for critically ill patients across the NHS.
