Low Levels of PaO(2) after Long-term Noninvasive Ventilation are a Poor Prognostic Factor in Patients with Restrictive Thoracic Disease

OBJECTIVE: The effects of partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO(2)) after introducing long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on the prognosis of patients with restrictive thoracic disease and chronic respiratory failure are not exactly known. METHODS: Data from 141 patients with restrictive thoracic disease under long-term nocturnal NIV were retrospectively examined. We divided the patients into 2 groups according to the daytime PaO(2) value while breathing spontaneously with prescribed oxygen at 12 months after introducing NIV: PaO(2)≥80 Torr group (n=76) and PaO(2)<80 Torr group (n=65). RESULTS: During the 4-year follow-up, the mortality was significantly higher in the PaO(2)<80 Torr group than in the PaO(2)≥80 Torr group (50.8% vs. 32.9%, p=0.03). Independent factors associated with the 4-year mortality after introducing NIV determined by a multivariate logistic regression analysis were a low body mass index [odds ratio (OR) 0.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77 to 0.97; p=0.01], assisted mode with NIV (OR 4.11; 95% CI, 1.79 to 9.45; p=0.0009), hospitalization during the first year of introducing NIV (OR 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.79; p=0.03), and daytime PaO(2)<80 Torr at 12 months after introducing NIV (OR 2.30; 95% CI, 1.03 to 5.10; p=0.04). CONCLUSION: A low daytime PaO(2) at 12 months after introducing NIV was an independent risk factor for mortality. Keeping the daytime PaO(2)≥80 Torr through the adjustment of the nocturnal NIV settings or increased diurnal supplemental oxygen may help improve the prognosis in patients with restrictive thoracic disease who are under NIV.