[Evolving Epidemiology of Home Mechanical Ventilation: A Rapidly Growing Challenge for Patient Care]

Home mechanical ventilation is dramatically evolving in Germany. Patients with non-invasive and invasive ventilation are increasingly treated at home. In-hospital treatment of these patients is also necessary either for control visits or the management of acute medical problems. However, the development of in-hospital patient care, morbidity and mortality of these patients is unknown.

All patients with long-term dependence on mechanical ventilation for more than three months requiring hospitalisation between 2006 and 2016 were analysed (data obtained from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany).

There was an exponential increase in the number of in-patients with long-term dependence of mechanical ventilation. While 24 845 patients were treated in-hospital in 2006, 86 117 patients were treated in 2016. Correspondingly, mortality decreased from 13.2 % (2006) to 5.7 % (2016). In addition, in 2016 47 % of all patients were treated on the intensive care or high dependency care unit. Overall, patients had been severely ill, as there were plenty of medical and neurological co-morbidities. The most common diagnosis was COPD with 58 % of all cases, followed by several cardiology diagnosis. A high number of patients had an impairment of renal function (24 %), in part requiring dialysis.

The rapid development of home mechanical ventilation substantially impacts on the development of the hospital landscape in Germany. The exponential increase of these care-intensive patients is challenging for the health care system and requires a discussion about its limits.