Age-differentiated comparison of health-related quality of life and impacting factors in COPD patients receiving long-term non-invasive ventilation.

<bold>BACKGROUND:</bold> Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is an established treatment for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CHRF). Evidence is particularly scarce with respect to health-related quality of life (HRQL) in the geriatric population. <bold>METHODS:</bold> In this prospective, monocentric study, HRQL was assessed using the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency Questionnaire (SRI). Patients were categorized into two age-based groups: ≥65 years and <65 years. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze factors on HRQL, including anemia, autonomy impairment, exacerbation history and others. <bold>RESULTS:</bold> 237 COPD patients with CHRF receiving NIV were included. The mean SRI summary score was 49.9±16.8 with 23.2% (N= 55) suffering from anemia and 36.7% (N=87) experiencing ≥2 exacerbations annually. Autonomy impairment was observed in 49.4% (N=117) of patients. No significant differences were found in SRI Summary Scale between age groups (p=0.581). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative impact of exacerbation history, anemia and level of autonomy impairment on SRI scores with age-related differences (Figure1). <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA5273/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>DISCUSSION:</bold> Despite age-related differences in influencing factors, there was no difference in HRQL between geriatric and younger patients. Age, as a single factor, does not correlate with HRQL variance and should not exclude consideration of NIV.