Background: The use of domiciliary non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is still controversial in stable hypercapnic COPD.
Methods: Records of COPD patients who received home NIPPV from 1990 to 2002 either following an acute exacerbation or because of stable hypercapnia were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Thirty-seven patients receiving long term oxygen therapy for 50 +/- 47 months were included. At inclusion, their mean +/- SD: FEV1 was 27 +/- 9% predicted, inspiratory capacity was 45 +/- 14% predicted, PaO2 breathing room air was 50 +/- 10 mm Hg, PaCO2 breathing room air = 53 +/- 8 mm Hg, PaCO2 with oxygen was 60 +/- 9 mm Hg. Median survival with NIPPV was 41 months. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates with NIPPV were 92%, 62% and 24% respectively. Twelve months after onset of home NIPPV, PaCO2 breathing room air and with oxygen were significantly lower (47 +/- 8 mm Hg, p = 0.028 and 53 +/- 8 mm Hg, p = 0.005, respectively), inspiratory capacity was significantly improved (54 +/- 18% predicted, p = 0.033).
Conclusion: This study suggests that home NIPPV allows a lasting physiological stabilization in selected COPD patients, particularly those with an advanced disease, by reducing hypercapnia and improving inspiratory capacity.