Is it possible to find a predictor for detecting early signs of an COPD-exacerbation with LT-NIVpatients?

Abstract

Background: Patients with COPD are susceptible to acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), with poor outcomes in term of mortality and recurrence of AECOPD. In addition, AECOPD have impaired quality of life (QoL). Therefore, it would be a great advantage to detect early signs of AECOPD Purpose:To detect early signs of AECOPD in patients with COPD and home noninvasive ventilation (LT-NIV) Method:Patients referred to the respiratory department, M/FAM, OUH, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark,> 40 years, with COPD and LT-NIV, who gave written informed consent were provided with a standardized NIV-device (Lumis) with an associated online software program AirView. Daily the patients NIV-device send data of use, leak, tidal volume and breathing frequency. The Patients reported daily increased shortness of breath and mucus, need for acute medication, and the color of the mucus via an app. Data were checked weekdays by a nurse specialist. Patients could use a telephone hotline during workdays or send messages via the app. Controls were performed at the outpatient clinic Results:It´s a small study. Ten patients were included at the pulmonary department at OUH, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark from 01.03.17-28.02.18. Seven out of ten patients completed the one-year study period. Two patients died, and one patient decided to stop. The preliminary results seem to indicate that breathing frequency is the earliest predictor of an AECOPD. The total results will not be available before April 2019Conclusion:The preliminary results seem to that breathing frequency is the earliest predictor of an AECOPD, but the final result is not yet available, so it is too early to conclude on the result