Community continuous positive airway pressure therapy and non-invasive ventilation use during the COVID-19 pandemic

摘要

Enhancement in healthcare and medical management has extended the life expectancy of many chronic medical conditions. Community non-invasive ventilation (NIV) becomes a life-sustaining support for patients with severe ventilation insufficiency, as a complication of chronic respiratory or other systemic disorders. 1 Other than chronic respiratory failure, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome constitute important indications of community use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or NIV. An estimate of 5.3% middle-aged adults in Hong Kong have moderate to severe OSA that warrants CPAP therapy. 2 Although untreated OSA is rarely life-threatening in short term, 3 lacking appropriate treatment is associated with poor physical and mental health, cognitive performance, increased incidence of driving-related accidents and hypertension. The return of snoring may disturb family members’ sleep, and adversely impact household temperament which may already be tense under home confinement measure.