Abstract
NIPPV in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) and hypoventilation improves pulmonary haemodynamics and functional capacity. Long-term observations are lacking.
Aims: To investigate functional long-term outcome and haemodynamics in patients with PH due to hypoventilation and influence of NIPPV adherence.
Methods: Analysis of the two year follow- up in 40 subjects with PH due to hypoventilation using NIPPV more or less than 4 hours per night and 50 % of the treatment time.
Results: NIPPV use > 4h/night and > 50 % (n=28) of the treatment time led to long-term improvement of haemodynamics and functional capacity.
NIPPV use less than 4 hours per night and less than 50% (n=12) of the treatment time improved night-time CO2, but did not improve haemodynamics and exercise capacity.
Conclusion: NIPPV use more than 4 h/night and more than 50 % of the treatment time leads to a significant long-term improvement of haemodynamics and exercise capacity in patients with PH due to hypoventilation.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015