Irish medical journal
-
Irish medical journal · Jan 2007
Domiciliary non-invasive ventilation and the quality of life outcome of patients suffering from chronic respiratory failure.
Non-invasive ventilation assists breathing and hence improves oxygenation in patients with respiratory failure. Its role in the hospital is well established. Our study examined whether Non-invasive ventilation improves the quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory failure treated in the community. We followed up 17 patients suffering from chronic respiratory failure due to various medical conditions who were treated with community-based non-invasive ventilation. The diagnostic categories were severe kyphoscoliosis (2), healed pulmonary T.B plus lobectomy/pneumonectomy (4), healed pulmonary T.B with thoracoplasty and severe kyphoscoliosis (3), severe COAD (5) and muscular dystrophy (3). Activities of daily life (ADL) of all these patients had been affected by chronic respiratory failure. Quality of life (QOL) assessment both Pre and Post NIV was made using the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ). The arterial blood gases were used as an objective measure in these patients. The mean dyspnoea score was (pre and post) 3.47 and 4.76 (p = .0003), Emotional Function 3.24 and 4.65 (p = 0), Fatigue was 3.00 and 4.74 (p = .0003), Mastery 3.22 and 4.5(p = .0003) respectively. The median CRDQ score (pre and post NIV) was 12.94 and 19.04 (p =.0001). The mean paCO2 (pre and post-NIV) was 7.70 kpa and 6.44 kPa (p = .0001), the mean paO2 was 6.79 kpa and 9.39 kpa (p < .003). ⋯ The data in our study showed that community-based NIV significantly improved Quality Of Life (QOL) including dyspnoea, fatigue, mastery, emotional function as well as arterial blood gases.
-
Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic metabolic disease and a major source of morbidity and mortality. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is by far the most prevalent form of diabetes accounting for around 90% of cases worldwide. In recent years it has become apparent that a diabetes epidemic is unfolding as a result of increasing obesity, sedentary lifestyles and an ageing population. ⋯ The figure for patients with both types of complications was 3.8. This study shows that T2D is a very costly disease, largely due to the cost of and the management of complications. Many diabetes related complications are preventable, therefore it would appear a cost-effective approach for government to invest in the prevention of T2D and diabetes related complications.