Survival following initiation of non-invasive ventilation during hospitalization for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure

Benjamin Daines* BS, Nitish Mittal* BS, Amr Ismail MD, Gilbert Berdine MD

ABSTRACT

Patients hospitalized with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure often have comorbidities and are at increased risk for mortality after discharge. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has become a common therapy for these patients to improve gas exchange both while hospitalized and after discharge. To understand the survival of hypercapnic respiratory failure patients started on home NIV therapy, a prospective study was conducted analyzing rate of survival and predictors of mortality. Patients had a significant one-year mortality rate of 16.7% ± 0.71%. Analysis of demographic and physiologic data revealed that the only significant predictor of mortality was hours of NIV use per day, with greater use associated with increased mortality. Although initial results indicate that NIV can be an effective long term therapy for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure, these patients remain at high risk of mortality and require regular monitoring. Continued study will increase this cohort and follow it for longer periods of time to better understand the predictors of mortality in patients hospitalized with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Keywords: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome, noninvasive ventilation, hypercapnic respiratory failure


Article citation: Daines B, Mittal N, Ismail A, Berdine G. Survival following initiation of non-invasive ventilation during hospitalization for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2021;9(37):40–44
From: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
Submitted: 9/27/2020
Accepted: 12/1/2020
Reviewer: Kenneth Nugent MD
Conflicts of interest: none
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