TY - JOUR T1 - Late-breaking abstract: Noninvasive positive airway pressure ventilation and risk of pressure ulcers in patients with acute respiratory failure JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P2081 AU - Giovanni Ferrari AU - Valter Gallo AU - Francesco Panero AU - Fabrizio Elia AU - Franco Aprà Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2081.abstract N2 - Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) improves the outcome of patients with acute respiratory failure; however patient's discomfort due to mask intolerance and skin pressure ulcers may be a quite common cause of failure. Aim of our study was to seek for variables associated to the development of NIV related pressure ulcers.Methods: 170 patients, who underwent NIV for acute respiratory failure, were analyzed. Demographic and clinical variables were collected as well as type of pressure ulcer, interface, mode and duration of ventilation.Results: Our clinical cohort was made up of 99 male patients (58.2%), median age (interquartile range) was 75.2 (67.7-80.7) years. Median duration of NIV treatment was 3 (2-6) days. The oro-nasal mask was used in half of cases, while full-face and helmet in 35.3% and 14.7%. 46/170 (27.1%) patients experienced a NIV-related pressure ulcer. In the univariate analysis, the oro-nasal mask, duration of ventilation, type of feeding support and chronic use of steroids were significantly associated to the risk of ulcers. In the multivariate model, oro-nasal mask (OR=6.91, IC95% 1.77-26.90, p<0.001), NIV duration ≥ 72h (OR=5.98, IC95% 2.28-15.68, p<0.001), and chronic steroids use (OR=3.91, IC95% 0.88-17.50, p=0.04) remained significantly associated.Conclusions: Pressure ulcers represent a common complication of NIV. Some determinants could be matter of both preventive interventions and further investigation. ER -