Background: Many patients with DMD undergo tracheostomy. Tracheostomy is associated with certain complications, however its effect on prognosis is not known.
Methods: The relationship between type of mechanical ventilation and survival at 12 years was evaluated in a prospective cohort of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy followed in a French reference center for Neuromuscular Diseases. Cox proportional-hazards regressions were used to estimate the hazard ratios associated with risk of switching from non-invasive to invasive ventilation, and with risk of death.
Results: One hundred and fifty patients were included. Initial use of invasive ventilation was associated with an episode of acute respiratory failure (p < 0.0001) and with a severe clinical status (p < 0.05). Risk of death was associated with swallowing disorders (2.51, IC [1.12-5.66], p < 0.03) and cardiac failure (p < 0.05) but not with type of mechanical ventilation.
Conclusion: Switching to invasive ventilation is appropriate when non-invasive ventilation is ineffective.
Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Mechanical ventilation; Prospective cohort; Respiratory care.
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