Survey on accessibility and real-life application of noninvasive ventilation

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is an accepted method of respiratory failure treatment; however, at present, little is known about the global factors limiting NIV application. A survey designed to determine NIV accessibility and limiting factors in world economies and regions was developed. The questionnaire was sent to members of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Respiratory Intensive Care Assembly and all ERS National Delegates. Replies to the survey were collected from 161 respondents from 46 countries. NIV was found to be provided most frequently by pulmonologists and intensivists. In high-income economies (HIEs), NIV reimbursement in chronic respiratory failure treatment was found to be independent of the underlying disease and supplementary insurance (p<0.0001), whereas in upper-middle-income economies (UMIEs) it was found to be dependent on the underlying disease (p<0.0001). In chronic respiratory failure, NIV was not reimbursed in lower-middle-income economies (LMIEs) (p<0.0001). In LMIEs and UMIEs, the lack of financial resources was the main limiting factor in acute (p=0.007) and chronic respiratory failure (p<0.0001). In the income-level-based assessment, financing was recognised as relevant in LMIEs and UMIEs (p<0.0001), equipment in LMIEs and UMIEs (p=0.03), medical staff in all economies (p=0.02), and legal regulations in LMIEs (p=0.0005). It was confirmed that NIV in acute and chronic respiratory failure is reimbursed based on government regulations in UMIEs and HIEs (p<0.0001), and is not reimbursed and probably will not be reimbursed in the near future in LMIEs (p<0.0001). We conclude that financial constraints are still considered a major limiting factor for NIV use.