The rationality of the use of NIV in elderly patients with acute COPD exacerbation

NIV, which is an integral part of the treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD, is a method for treating patients independently of their age. Aim: to evaluate the effect of NIV and the need for endotracheal intubation (ETI) in elderly patients treated with NIV, in relation to patients treated with the standard medical therapy (SMT). Methods: retrospectively were analyzed 68 patients over 75 years of age, with type 2 chronic respiratory failure due to COPD exacerbation, treated with NIV, and 66 patients treated with SMT. The primary outcomel was need for IMV in elderly patients treated with NIV. The secondary outcome was mortality rate and acidobasic status (ABS). Results: the need for ETI was reduced in the NIV treated group compared to that of SMT group (8.3% vs. 58.6%, respectively; P <0.001), as was the mortality rate [OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.17-0.75; P = 0.016]. ABS and vital signs improved significantly after treatment with NIV in comparison with SMT. Conclusion: NIV is a safe method of treatment the elderly patients with AE of COPD, which greatly avoids the ETI as well as the complications related to it, thus significantly improving the patient9s prognosis.