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 (LM...