Home Non-Invasive Ventilation Targeting Expiratory Flow Limitation in Severe Hypercapnic COPD.
Home Non-Invasive Ventilation Targeting Expiratory Flow Limitation in Severe Hypercapnic COPD.
In this 2-phase pilot study, the BiPAP A40 EFL will be evaluated in patients with severe COPD requiring home non-invasive ventilatory support with respect to patient-related and physiologic outcomes.
Objective phase 1: in patients with COPD already established on home NIV, to assess the effect of 2 months of the A40EFL on ventilator parameters, physiologic and patient-related outcomes (PRO), in comparison to the patients' usual settings as prescribed by their treating physician.
The two primary outcomes will be the nightly duration of NIV use and NIV-related symptoms (S3-NIV questionnaire). Patient preference will be a secondary outcome.
Objective phase 2 : In hypercapnic patients with COPD with a prior hypercapnic exacerbation requiring NIV in hospital, to obtain preliminary data regarding the impact of home NIV using the A40EFL on COPD exacerbations and physiologic and patient-related outcomes.
The primary outcome will be the number of hospitalizations over 12 months on A40EFL.
Secondary outcomes will include descriptive data on number of exacerbations not requiring hospitalization but treated with antibiotics or prednisone.
Additional secondary outcomes, physiologic and PRO, for both phases 1 & 2, will be evaluated.
Inclusion Criteria:
severe COPD with FEV1<50%, using home NIV successfully for at least 2 months through the Quebec National Program for Home Ventilatory Assistance (NPHVA).
severe COPD with FEV1<50%; pCO2>= 52 on arterial or capillary blood gas measured 2-4 weeks after acute NIV use and discontinuation
Exclusion Criteria:
COPD exacerbation requiring treatment (including hospitalization) within the last 6 weeks; surgical procedure or major illness within the last 3 months; kyphoscoliosis, neuromuscular disease, other lung disease (e.g. fibrosis); active cancer; expected survival < 2 months; listed on the transplant list.
any additional condition potentially predisposing to hypercapnia such as: obesity (BMI> 30kg/m2), kyphoscoliosis, neuromuscular disease, other lung disease (e.g. fibrosis), severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI>30/h on prior testing if available, but will not test as part of the study); active cancer; expected survival < 2 months; listed on the transplant list at start of study.