Is there a relationship between S3-NIV and SRI questionnaires and exacerbations in COPD patients under home mechanical ventilation?

Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is used in COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure, aiming to improve symptoms and decrease exacerbations. The S3 non-invasive ventilation (S3-NIV) and Severe Respiratory Insufficiency (SRI) questionnaires are useful tools that allow monitorization of patients. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between the S3-NIV and SRI questionnaires and the presence of exacerbations in COPD patients under HMV. We conducted a prospective study of COPD patients established on HMV, followed in a HMV outpatient clinic, starting on July 2022. The S3-NIV and SRI questionnaires and patient data were collected at inclusion. At 6 months we evaluated the presence or absence of exacerbations and performed a comparative analysis of baseline results between groups. A logistic regression was also performed. A total of 79 patients were included in the analysis. Results are summarized in figure 1. A total of 25 patients (31.6%) had an exacerbation in the 6 months following inclusion in the study. Patients with higher S3-NIV (OR=0.737; CI95%: 0.552–0.982; p=0.037) and SRI (OR=0.969; CI95%: 0.942–0.996; p=0.025) questionnaire scores have lower odds of having an exacerbation. The presence of an exacerbation in the following 6 months was associated with lower baseline S3-NIV and SRI scores. These questionnaires might help predict exacerbations.