[Treatment and long-term follow-up of obesity hypoventilation syndrome]

Introduction: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is the leading cause of long-term respiratory support worldwide. In Hungary, financial assistance and therapeutic opportunities of long-term ventilation have been available for almost a decade, however, little is known about long-term outcomes in OHS. Objective: We aimed to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of OHS patients participating in the Semmelweis University Home Ventilation Program. Method: We performed a prospective follow-up study among OHS patients between 01. 01. 2018 and 30. 01. 2023. Results: 63 patients completed the study. 38 (60%) patients started long-term respiratory support after an episode of acute-on-chronic respiratory failure, and 25 patients (40%) were recruited electively. After 6 months of therapy, the average daily usage of the ventilator was 7.49 (± 2,92) hours. We found that 54 patients (86%) reached normocapnia. 96.83% of the patients (61) had good compliance with the home ventilation program. During the observational period (67 months), the average follow-up was 32.51 (± 18.45) months with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 66 months. According to our data, the cumulative 5-year survival was 86%. Conclusion: Protocolized, goal-directed long-term ventilation is associated with excellent clinical results and outstanding cumulative mortality rates compared to international data. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(10): 385–392.