The effects of home noninvasive ventilation on the quality of life and physiological parameters of patients with chronic respiratory failure.

Introduction: Home noninvasive mechanical ventilation (HNIV) in patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CHRF) may improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and reduce hospitalizations.

Objective: To determine the effects of HNIV on HRQoL, sleep quality and hospitalization rates in restrictive thoracic diseases (RTD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with CHRF.

Methods: In this prospective, single center study patients divided into two groups; the COPD and the RTD groups. HRQoL assessed by The Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) and Severe Respiratory Insufficiency (SRI); the sleep quality was assessed by Epworth and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires. The patients were reevaluated first month, third months, sixth months and 1 year following HNIV establishment, during which time, hospitalization rates were recorded.

Results: Ninety (COPD n = 50, RTD n = 40) out of 102 eligible patients completed the study. Significant improvements in blood gases and HRQoL were observed in the first month of HNIV establishment and remained stable. Mean ± SD SRI summary scale improved significantly from 30 ± 12 baseline to 65 ± 16 at 1 year in COPD group (P < 0.001) and from 39 ± 13 to 63 ± 18 in RTD group (P < 0.001). HNIV reduced hospitalization rates from a mean of 1.9 ± 1.1 to 0.5 ± 0.9 in COPD group (P < 0.001) and a mean of 1.9 ± 1 to 0.5 ± 0.7 in RTD group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: HNIV improves HRQoL, sleep quality and gas exchange and reduces hospitalizations in patients with CHRF regardless of etiology.