Early factors related to mortality in children treated with bi‐level noninvasive ventilation and CPAP

Objective To describe and analyze the characteristics and the early risk factors for mortality of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in critically ill children. Study design A multicenter, prospective, observational 2‐year study carried out with critically ill patients (1 month – 18 years of age) who needed NIV. Clinical data and NIV parameters during the first 12 h of admission were collected. A multilevel mixed‐effects logistic regression was performed to identify mortality risk factors. Results A total of 781 patients (44.2 ± 57.7 months) were studied (57.8% male). Of them, 53.7% had an underlying condition, and 47.1% needed NIV for lower airway respiratory pathologies. Bi‐level NIV was the initial support in 78.2% of the patients. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was used more in younger patients (33.7%) than in older ones (9.7%; p