Multidisciplinary treatment vs. non-invasive ventilation for the prognosis of elderly patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A retrospective study

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a pivotal therapeutic modality for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy differences between a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach and NIV in elderly AECOPD patients. A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted, encompassing 138 AECOPD patients aged ≥60 years, admitted between 2022 and 2024, with 131 completing the study. Both MDT and NIV achieved efficacy rates exceeding 90%, with no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in total hospital stay, activities of daily living, Modified Medical Research Council Scale score, oxygenation index, and 1-month readmission rate. Nevertheless, NIV demonstrated superiority in improving dyspnea symptoms compared with MDT (P < .001), while MDT exhibited a greater advantage in reducing partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P = .010). Subgroup analyses revealed that in patients aged ≥75 years and those with an Modified Medical Research Council score of 4, MDT was superior to NIV in partial pressure of carbon dioxide improvement. MDT represents an effective alternative therapeutic option for elderly patients with AECOPD.