ResMed: NIV reduces death and improves quality of life in stable COPD1

[hr]Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) using adequate pressure support is an effective therapy for reducing CO₂ in hypercapnic COPD patients¹²³.[hr]
Unfortunately, stable hypercapnic patients are often left untreated until first exacerbations occur. Recent evidence shows that NIV at an early stage also helps reduce hospitalisations rates^² and improves quality of life^¹.
The recent publication of a ground breaking study in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine* adds to this growing body of evidence that stable hypercapnic COPD patients can significantly benefit from NIV, particularly if reduced CO2 is the clinical target^¹.
The investigator initiated, prospective, multicentre trial randomised 195 patients with stable GOLD stage IV COPD to optimised standard therapy or NIV targeted to reduce baseline PaCO₂ by 20% or more, or achieve PaCO₂ values lower than 6.5kPa (48.1mm Hg). Patients were advised to use therapy for at least 6 hours a day.
Results showed that NIV using adequate pressure support reduced the risk of death by 76% in COPD patients over one-year^¹.
One-year mortality in the NIV group was 11.8% vs 33.3% in a control group receiving optimised standard treatment (HR 0.24%, CI 0.11-0.49; log rank p=0.0004)
Patients who were randomised to NIV therapy also had a significant improvement in Health Related Quality of Life, as measured by the globally recognised St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire summary score^¹.
Our automatic intelligent pressure support mode, iVAPS, is designed for easy set-up and therapy acceptance for patients whose condition is characterised by hypoventilation and is likely to change while on therapy.
References
* Lancet Resp Med 2014; online
1. Kohnlein, T et al. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for the  treatment of severe, stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:  a prospective, multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial.  Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2014; online.
2. Clini E et al. The Italian multicentre study on noninvasive ventilation  in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Eur Respir J  2002: 20 (3): 529-538.
3. Meecham Jones DJ et al. Nasal pressure support ventilation plus  oxygen compared with oxygen therapy alone in hypercapnic  COPD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995: 152:538-544.
To learn more about our dedicated range of NIV solutions for the treatment of COPD visit www.resmed.com/COPD