Usefulness of the S3-NIV patient questionnaire added to telemonitoring data for the first 6 months of home non-invasive ventilation

Introduction Optimal management of long-term home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy is not clearly defined. This study determined whether patient experience of disease and NIV therapy (S3-NIV score) in the first month was associated with successful NIV delivery and termination rate at 6 months. Methods Participants were adults starting home nocturnal NIV for chronic respiratory failure in 2019-2022, who used telemonitoring, completed ≥1 S3-NIV questionnaire in the first month of NIV and were followed by the same home service provider. As no S3-NIV score thresholds are defined, participants were grouped by S3-NIV score quartiles (Q) (Q1=most negative impact of symptoms/NIV; Q4=lowest impact of disease/treatment). Factors associated with successful NIV delivery at 6 months were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results 153 patients were included (mean age 65.9±12.9 years, 60% male). The proportion of patients with successful NIV delivery at 6 months increased as initial S3-NIV score increased: Q1 42%, Q2 60%, Q3 63%, and Q4 63% (p=0.007). Individuals with lower S3-NIV scores had more home interventions and mask changes during follow-up, regardless of whether NIV was successful or not. Termination rate was higher in S3-NIV score Q1 versus Q4 (29% vs. 11%). The probability of successful NIV delivery at 6 months increased by 1.14-fold for each 1-point increase in initial S3-NIV score, independent of the association between the score and NIV data at 1 month. Conclusion The S3-NIV questionnaire helped to identify patients at higher risk of therapy termination more effectively than relying only on objective ventilator data.