Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Chronic Heart Failure

Instruction and Objectives . Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) alleviates sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and it may improve cardiac function in SDB patients. Because large randomized controlled trials directly evaluating the impact of NPPV on cardiac function are lacking, we conducted a meta-analysis of published data on effectiveness of NPPV in improving cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure regardless of SDB presence. Methods . Controlled trials were identified in PubMed, OVID, and EMBASE databases. Both fixed and randomized models were used in meta-analysis with primary outcomes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results . Nineteen studies were included with a total of 843 patients. Compared to standard medical treatment (SMT) plus sham-NPPV or SMT only, NPPV plus SMT was associated with improvement in LVEF (weighted mean difference 5.34, 95% CI,[3.85,6.82];P<0.00001) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (weighted mean difference −117.37, 95% CI,[-227.22,-7.52];P=0.04) and no influence on overall mortality (RR 1.00, 95% CI,[0.96,1.04];P=0.95). Conclusions . In the present meta-analysis, use of NPPV plus SMT improved LVEF and reduced plasma BNP level but did not improve overall mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.