[Compliance with long-term respiratory assistance in patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency]

The domiciliary treatment of severe chronic respiratory failure (I.R.C.) by oxygen or assisted ventilation was accomplished by members of a recently created national organisation (ANTA-DIR, 1980). This work reports the results of a survey carried out in Nice on 19 patients (12 men and 7 women) followed for more than a year. A questionnaire was filled in at the home of each patient, primarily to assess the functional outcome and the level of compliance of the therapy prescribed. We noticed and 86% drop in the number of days spent in hospital over a 2 year period. An analysis of the diary cards on the use of respiratory equipment, as well as oxygen consumption compared to the therapy initially prescribed, allowed an analysis of the degree of patient compliance. This was very good in only 3 out of 19 subjects and on average the prescribed therapy was followed for only two thirds of the time. However, a functional evaluation using simple clinical criteria showed a discernible improvement in 11 patients, who had a better quality of life and a greater autonomy since coming under supervision.