Non-invasive ventilation deaths fell for first time in 2019, audit finds

Inpatient mortality among people receiving non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has decreased for the first time since 2010, falling from 34% in 2013 to 26% in 2019, figures released by the British Thoracic Society show.

The annual National Adult Non-Invasive Ventilation audit,1 which began in 2010, reported “substantial improvements in processes of care and patient outcomes” in 2019 when compared with previous years.

“Some improvement in overall mortality may be attributed to improved patient selection,” it said. “Mortality outcomes were lower for each diagnostic category, and most notably for patients with COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and obesity-related respiratory failure.”

The 2019 audit included data collected in February and March 2019 from more than 150 hospitals, involving over 3500 patient …