Abstract
Home ventilation proved effective in prolonging life in patients suffering from restrictive respiratory disease. It has recently been proposed in obstructive disease especially in patients with frequent exacerbations. We report in this study our experience with home ventilation emphasizing its impact on survival in obstructive compared to restrictive patients.
Patients and methods: Starting from 2005, 82 patients (50% males, mean age: 62±15 years) were prescribed home ventilation via facial/nasal mask and included in the present analysis. A survival analysis with LogRank test was made after a mean follow-up of 29±16 months.
Results: 48 patients had obstructive disease either isolated (n=20), or associated with obstructive sleep apnea (Overlap syndrome, n=28). The remaining 34 had restrictive pulmonary disease (mainly myopathy). At time of censoring, 70 patients were still alive. There was no statistical difference in cumulated survival between obstructive and restrictive patients (LogRank= 0.3).
CONCLUSION: Our study shows similar survival patterns with home ventilation in obstructive and restrictive respiratory failure. The impact on quality of life should be compared too.
- © 2013 ERS
