Home ventilation for patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: The number of patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with chronic non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has greatly increased. In this review, the authors summarize the evidence for nocturnal NIV and NIV during exercise. The authors discuss the multidisciplinary and advanced care of patients with end-stage COPD treated with NIV. RECENT FINDINGS: Nocturnal NIV improves gas exchange, health-related quality of life and survival in stable hypercapnic COPD patients. Improvements in care delivery have been achieved by relocating care from the hospital to home based; home initiation of chronic NIV is feasible, non-inferior regarding efficacy and cost-effective compared to in-hospital initiation. However, the effect of NIV on symptoms is variable, and applying optimal NIV for end-stage COPD is complex. While exercise-induced dyspnoea is a prominent complaint in end-stage COPD, nocturnal NIV will not change this. However, NIV applied solely during exercise might improve exercise tolerance and dyspnoea. While chronic NIV is often a long-standing treatment, patient expectations should be discussed early and be managed continuously during the treatment. Further, integration of advance care planning requires a multidisciplinary approach. SUMMARY: Although chronic NIV is an effective treatment in end-stage COPD with persistent hypercapnia, there are still important questions that need to be answered to improve care of these severely ill patients.

Palliation of Dyspnea With Mouthpiece Ventilation in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

Background: Mouthpiece ventilation (MPV) reduces hypoventilation, but its efficacy in relieving dyspnea in patients with acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation (AECOPD) is unclear. Objective: To assess the feasibility of MPV in relieving dyspnea among patients with AECOPD. Methods: In this prospective single-arm pilot study, the change in dyspnea on numeric rating scale (NRS) after using MPV and side effects of the treatment were studied in 18 patients with AECOPD. Results: The median decrease in dyspnea was 1.5 (95% confidence interval = 0.0-2.5, p = 0.006) on NRS after the intervention lasting a median of 16.9 minutes. Of the patients, 61% found MPV beneficial. The use of MPV did not increase the sense of anxiety or pain. Conclusions: MPV is feasible and may relieve dyspnea in patients with AECOPD, but the intervention needs further evaluation. clinicaltrials.gov study number: NCT03025425.

Assessing Symptom Burden and Depression in Subjects With Chronic Respiratory Insufficiency.

Objectives: Patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency suffer from advanced disease, but their overall symptom burden is poorly described. We evaluated the symptoms and screening of depression in subjects with chronic respiratory insufficiency by using the Edmonton symptom assessment system (ESAS). Methods: In this retrospective study, 226 subjects with chronic respiratory insufficiency answered the ESAS questionnaire measuring symptoms on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (worst possible symptom), and the depression scale (DEPS) questionnaire, in which the cut-off point for depressive symptoms is 9. Results: The most severe symptoms measured with ESAS (median [interquartile range]) were shortness of breath 4.0 (1.0-7.0), dry mouth 3.0 (1.0-7.0), tiredness 3.0 (1.0-6.0), and pain on movement 3.0 (0.0-6.0). Subjects with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a cause for chronic respiratory insufficiency had significantly higher scores for shortness of breath, dry mouth, and loss of appetite compared to others. Subjects with DEPS ≥9 reported significantly higher symptom scores in all ESAS categories than subjects with DEPS <9. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for ESAS depression score predicting DEPS ≥9 was 0.840 (P < .001). If the ESAS depression score was 0, there was an 89% probability of the DEPS being <9, and if the ESAS depression score was ≥4, there was an 89% probability of the DEPS being ≥9. The relation between ESAS depression score and DEPS was independent of subjects' characteristics and other ESAS items. Conclusions: Subjects with chronic respiratory insufficiency suffer from a high symptom burden due to their advanced disease. The severity of symptoms increases with depression and 4 or more points in the depression question of ESAS should lead to a closer diagnostic evaluation of depression. Symptom-centered palliative care including psychosocial aspects should be early integrated into the treatment of respiratory insufficiency.

Dyspnea on Exercise Is Associated with Overall Symptom Burden in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Insufficiency.

Background: Patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency suffer from many symptoms together with dyspnea. Objective: We evaluated the association of dyspnea on exercise with other symptoms in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or interstitial lung disease. Design: This retrospective study included 101 patients in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Dyspnea on exercise was assessed with modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea questionnaire, and other symptoms were assessed with Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Depression Scale (DEPS). The study was approved by Regional Ethics Committee of Tampere University Hospital, Finland (approval code R15180/December 1, 2015). Results: Patients with mMRC 4 (most severe dyspnea) compared with those with mMRC 0-3 reported higher symptom scores on ESAS in shortness of breath (median 8.0 [IQR 6.0-9.0] vs. 4.0 [2.0-6.0], p < 0.001), dry mouth (7.0 [4.0-8.0] vs. 3.0 [1.0-6.0], p < 0.001), tiredness (6.0 [3.0-7.0] vs. 3.0 [1.0-5.0], p < 0.001), loss of appetite (3.0 [0.0-6.0] vs. 1.0 [0.0-3.0], p = 0.001), insomnia (3.0 [1.0-7.0] vs. 2.0 [0.0-3.0], p = 0.027), anxiety (3.0 [0.0-5.5] vs. 1.0 [0.0-3.0], p = 0.007), and nausea (0.0 [0.0-2.0] vs. 0.0 [0.0-0.3], p = 0.027). Patients with mMRC 4 were more likely to reach the DEPS threshold for depression than those scoring mMRC 0-3 (42.1% vs. 20.8%, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency need comprehensive symptom screening with relevant treatment, as they suffer from broad symptom burden worsening with increased dyspnea on exercise.

Survival and end-of-life aspects among subjects on long-term noninvasive ventilation.

BACKGROUND: The need for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is commonly considered a predictor of poor survival, but life expectancy may vary depending on the underlying disease. We studied the factors associated with decreased survival and end-of-life characteristics in an unselected population of subjects starting NIV. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including 205 subjects initiating NIV from 1/1/2012-31/12/2015 who were followed up until 31/12/2017. RESULTS: The median survival time was shorter in subjects needing help with activities of daily living than in independent subjects (hazard ratio (HR) for death 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.6, P = 0.008) and was also shorter in subjects on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) than in those not on LTOT (HR for death 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.3, P < 0.001). There was marked difference in survival according to the disease necessitating NIV, and subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or interstitial lung disease seemed to have the shortest survival. The two most common diseases resulting in the need for NIV were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). The median survival time was 4.4 years in COPD subjects, but the median survival time was not reached in subjects with OHS (HR for death COPD vs. OHS: 3.2, 95% CI 1.9-5.5, P < 0.001). Most of the deceased subjects (55.6%) died in the hospital, while only 20.0% died at home. The last hospitalization admission leading to death occurred through the emergency room in 44.4% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Survival among subjects starting NIV in this real-life study varied greatly depending on the disease and degree of functional impairment. Subjects frequently died in the hospital after admission through the emergency department. A comprehensive treatment approach with timely advance care planning is therefore needed, especially for those needing help with activities of daily living and those with both NIV and LTOT.

Mouthpiece ventilation in the management of dyspnea: A single-arm pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation may relieve dyspnea in advanced diseases, but noninvasive ventilation through mouthpiece has not been tested in palliative care. AIM: To assess the feasibility of mouthpiece ventilation in relieving dyspnea among patients with advanced disease. DESIGN: In this prospective single-arm pilot study, the change in dyspnea by mouthpiece ventilation was measured with numeric rating scale (0-10) and 100-mm visual analogue scale. Overall, benefit and adverse events of the therapy were also assessed. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two patients with an advanced disease and dyspnea from the Tampere University Hospital or Pirkanmaa Hospice were treated with mouthpiece ventilation. The patients used mouthpiece ventilation as long as they preferred, but for a minimum of 5 min. RESULTS: After the treatment period lasting a median of 13.5 min, mean decrease in dyspnea was -1.1 (95 % confidence interval = -2.2 to -0.1, p = 0.034) on numeric rating scale and -11.8 mm (95 % confidence interval = -19.9 to -3.7, p = 0.006) on visual analogue scale. Nonetheless, there was a high variability in this effect between individual patients. About half of the patients found mouthpiece ventilation beneficial. No serious adverse events occurred, but dry mouth was the most common adverse event. Anxiety did not increase with mouthpiece ventilation. CONCLUSION: Mouthpiece ventilation is feasible and may relieve dyspnea in some patients with an advanced disease. Further studies are needed, and these might concentrate on stable patients in early palliative care. Before initiation, this study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (study no. NCT03012737).

Predictors of Impaired Survival in Subjects With Long-Term Oxygen Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The need for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is usually a sign of advanced disease, which could trigger advance care planning. However, LTOT is used in patients with different characteristics and multiple diagnoses beyond COPD. We studied the factors associated with survival in an unselected sample of subjects who started LTOT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study that included 195 subjects for whom LTOT was initiated in Tampere University Hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015, and followed up until December 31, 2017. RESULTS: The most frequent diseases that caused the need for LTOT were COPD and interstitial lung diseases. Most of the subjects (69%) died during the study period; the median survival time was 2.2 y. The subjects with interstitial lung disease as a primary disease for LTOT had a shorter survival time (median 0.9 y) compared with those with COPD (median 2.4 y, P < .001). Survival was shorter in the subjects ages >75 y (median 1.4 y) compared with those who were ages ≤75 y (median 2.8 y, P = .001) and also in those who required help with daily activities (median 1.2 y) compared with those who did not (median 3.3 y, P < .001). In multivariate analysis, a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.2), Charlson comorbidity index (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% Cl 1.11-1.43), and required help in activities of daily living (hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.4-3.1) were associated with impaired survival. CONCLUSIONS: The survival of the subjects who started LTOT varied greatly. The subjects with interstitial lung disease and those who required assistance with activities of daily living were at risk of dying in ∼1 y, which suggested that advance care planning should be directed especially to these patients.