Feasibility of long‐term home noninvasive ventilation program in a general pediatric unit: 21 years' experience in Hong Kong

Background Long‐term home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is increasingly employed in children with sleep‐disordered breathing and chronic respiratory failure. While studies suggest its successful implementation in tertiary care centers, little is known about the situation in a general care setting. Hence, we aim to evaluate the clinical profiles of these children in a general pediatric unit over the past two decades. Methods Data collected retrospectively on patients younger than 18 years old receiving long‐term home NIV from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2017 in a Hong Kong regional general pediatric unit were reviewed. Results The number of children on home NIV increased more than 10‐fold over the past two decades. In total, 114 children were commenced on NIV during the 21‐year period. Upper airway obstruction was the most common cause (77%), followed by neuromuscular diseases (16%), pulmonary disorders (4%), and abnormal ventilatory control (3%). Continuous positive airway pressure was the most common NIV type (59%). To date, 46% of the children remained in our NIV program, while 18% discontinued NIV support. NIV adherence increased significantly with follow‐up (median of 78.6% and 82.5% at baseline and last follow‐up, respectively). Sixty‐five percent of the children used NIV for at least 4 h on 70% of the days monitored. Higher body mass index was associated with lower adherence. Conclusion Pediatric home NIV is feasible in the general care setting with good outcomes and adherence. As the demand for NIV service grows, input from local hospitals will be of increasing importance and should be considered upon healthcare planning.