To the Editors:
We read with interest the systematic review of Kolodziej et al. 1 about noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) in severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). First of all, we would like to compliment the authors on their excellent review. It is extremely important that good-quality reviews are published in the field of NPPV in severe stable COPD. The development of new therapeutic options in these patients is increasingly being recognised as urgently needed 2.
However, we would like to comment on the conclusions Kolodziej et al. 1 draw in their review. They conclude that bilevel NPPV used in a select proportion of patients with severe stable COPD can improve gas exchange, exercise tolerance, dyspnoea, work of breathing, frequency of hospitalisation, health-related quality of life and functional status. Following this, they suggest an adjunctive role for the …
