Epidemiology of Non- Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Argentina: a Multicenter Observational Study (EpVAr-VMNI)

May 27, 2025 updated by: Gustavo Plotnikow, Argentinian Intensive Care Society

Introduction Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is a fundamental strategy in the management of acute respiratory failure, preventing intubation and reducing complications. However, the epidemiology of its use in Argentina is not well understood, motivating this study.

Justification Unequal access to ICU resources in Argentina affects the quality of care. This study aims to describe the implementation, effectiveness, and outcomes of NIMV across different regions of the country to improve clinical decision-making and healthcare policies.

Objectives

  • Primary: Analyze the survival of ICU patients receiving NIMV.
  • Secondary: Evaluate success/failure factors, regional disparities in resource availability, the impact of healthcare staff training, comparison between public and private sectors, and establish a national database.

Methods Study Design Observational, multicenter, prospective, and analytical study. Both public and private hospitals in Argentina will be included. Data will be collected over seven months, with patient follow-up until discharge or death.

Study Population Adult patients (>18 years) admitted to the ICU requiring NIMV for acute respiratory failure or as part of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age >18 years.
  • Use of NIMV in the ICU for respiratory failure or during weaning.
  • Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Patients using home NIMV without exacerbation.
  • Patients without acute respiratory impairment.

Data Collection and Management

  • Data will be recorded using an electronic form in RedCap®, with restricted access.
  • Confidentiality will be ensured through alphanumeric coding.
  • A monitoring committee will supervise data quality.

Statistical Analysis

  • Continuous variables: Mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range.
  • Comparisons: Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi² test, or Fisher's exact test.
  • Multivariate models: Logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Bias Control and Data Quality Strategies will be implemented to minimize selection, information, and investigator bias. Data will be periodically reviewed by the monitoring committee.

Study Feasibility The study is supported by the British Hospital of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Society of Intensive Care Medicine, ensuring its viability.

Ethical Considerations The study will comply with national and international health research regulations, ensuring participant confidentiality.

Publication and Funding The study will be funded by the Argentine Society of Intensive Care Medicine, with no external financial support. Authorship in publications will depend on the number of patients included per center.

Conclusion This study aims to generate key information on NIMV use in Argentina, optimizing its application and improving ICU care nationwide.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) has become a crucial treatment in managing acute respiratory failure, preventing the need for endotracheal intubation and its associated complications. Numerous studies have demonstrated that timely and appropriate NIMV use reduces mortality, decreases the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and minimizes hospital length of stay. However, the epidemiology of NIMV use in Argentina remains largely undocumented, particularly regarding regional disparities in access, implementation, and patient outcomes.

This multicenter observational study aims to fill this knowledge gap by analyzing NIMV utilization in intensive care units (ICUs) across Argentina. The study will evaluate patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and factors influencing NIMV success or failure. Additionally, it will assess the impact of healthcare staff training and the differences between public and private healthcare settings.

Study Objectives Primary Objective

- Analyze the survival rates of ICU patients receiving NIMV.

Secondary Objectives

  • Identify factors associated with NIMV success or failure, including the need for intubation.
  • Describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients requiring NIMV.
  • Compare mortality rates between successful and failed NIMV cases.
  • Evaluate regional disparities in resource availability and NIMV usage.
  • Analyze the impact of staff training levels on patient outcomes.
  • Compare NIMV practices between public and private hospitals.
  • Establish a national database to facilitate ongoing assessment of NIMV in Argentina.

Study Design This is a prospective, multicenter, observational, and analytical study that will collect data from ICUs in both public and private hospitals across different regions of Argentina. The study will be conducted over seven months to capture seasonal variations in respiratory diseases. All enrolled patients will be followed until discharge or death.

Population and Setting The study will include adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to ICUs and requiring NIMV for acute respiratory failure or as part of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Participating hospitals must have the capacity to provide NIMV and record detailed patient data.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients ≥18 years old requiring NIMV in ICU for acute respiratory failure (hypoxemic, hypercapnic, or mixed) or as part of IMV weaning.
  • Patients receiving palliative NIMV or as part of end-of-life care.
  • Patients requiring increased duration or level of NIMV support due to worsening condition.
  • Signed informed consent from the patient or a legal representative.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients using home NIMV for chronic respiratory conditions (e.g., COPD, neuromuscular diseases, obesity hypoventilation syndrome) without acute respiratory deterioration.
  • Patients without acute respiratory distress at ICU admission.

Data Collection and Variables Data Management System

  • Data will be collected using an electronic form in RedCap® with restricted access.
  • Each participating ICU will have a designated site coordinator responsible for data collection and entry.
  • To ensure data accuracy, a monitoring committee will review a random 5% sample of enrolled patients.

Key Variables Baseline Data

  • Demographics: Age, sex, weight, height.
  • ICU admission data: Date of hospital and ICU admission.
  • Charlson Comorbidity Index and APACHE II score at ICU admission.
  • Previous NIMV or oxygen therapy use (home or pre-ICU).

NIMV Implementation

  • Date of NIMV initiation in ICU.
  • Initial arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH, PaCO₂, PaO₂, SaO₂, FiO₂.
  • Primary reason for NIMV: COPD exacerbation, asthma, pneumonia, ARDS, post-operative respiratory failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, neuromuscular disease, etc.
  • Ventilator settings: Mode (e.g., PSV, PCV), inspiratory pressure, PEEP, FiO₂, respiratory rate, tidal volume.
  • Interface used: Helmet, oronasal mask, nasal mask, mouthpiece.
  • Humidification use (active/passive).
  • Adjunct therapies: Sedation, analgesia, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO).

Monitoring and Outcomes

  • Daily ABG values and ventilator settings during NIMV use.
  • Signs of respiratory distress: Tachypnea, accessory muscle use, paradoxical breathing.
  • Complications: Facial pressure ulcers, barotrauma, pneumonia, gastric distension.
  • Failure criteria: Need for intubation or death during NIMV.
  • Length of NIMV use and ICU/hospital stay duration.
  • Mortality at day 28 and at hospital discharge.
  • Final disposition: Discharge to home, rehabilitation center, or another hospital unit.

Statistical Analysis

  • Descriptive statistics:
  • Continuous variables: Mean ± SD or median (IQR).
  • Categorical variables: Frequency and percentages.
  • Comparative analysis:
  • Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables.
  • Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables.
  • Multivariate analysis:
  • Logistic regression to identify predictors of NIMV failure.
  • Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model to assess survival outcomes.
  • Missing data handling: Patients with >10% missing key variables will be excluded from the final analysis.
  • Software: All statistical analyses will be performed using R 4.3.3, with ggplot2 for visualizations and Survival package for survival analysis.

Bias Control and Quality Assurance

  • Selection bias: Consecutive patient recruitment to minimize inclusion bias.
  • Information bias: Standardized electronic data collection with training for investigators.
  • Investigator bias: Use of predefined diagnostic criteria and cut-off values.

Ethical Considerations

  • The study will comply with international research ethics standards (Helsinki Declaration, ICH-GCP).
  • Data will be anonymized and securely stored, following Argentina's Data Protection Law (25.326/00).
  • Ethical approval will be obtained from the Ethics Committee of the British Hospital of Buenos Aires and participating institutions.

Study Feasibility

  • The study will be coordinated by the British Hospital of Buenos Aires with support from the Argentine Society of Intensive Care Medicine (SATI).
  • No external funding; the study is supported by SATI.
  • Participating centers will be invited via SATI networks and social media, with a structured training program to ensure compliance with data collection protocols.

Conclusion This study will provide essential insights into NIMV epidemiology in Argentina, helping to optimize its implementation and improve ICU care nationwide. By identifying key predictors of success or failure, the study will contribute to evidence-based clinical practice and inform national health policies regarding ventilatory support strategies.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

246

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Buenos Aires
      • Caba, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1425
        • Hospital Britanico de Buenos Aires

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients admitted to the ICU with NIMV requirements

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients over 18 years of age.
  • Requirement of NIMV in ICU due to acute respiratory failure (hypoxemic or hypercapnic or mixed) or as part of the process of weaning from mechanical ventilation.
  • Patients who receive NIMV as a palliative or as part of end-of-life care.
  • Patients as a routine treatment who require an increase in the time of use, or the level of support, or both due to increased demand.
  • Informed consent signed by the patient or his/her legal representative in the event that the patient is incapacitated.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients admitted to the ICU with NIV as standard treatment for chronic lung disease, neuromuscular disease, obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, or obesity hypoventilation syndrome without additional respiratory compromise.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
ICU Mortality
Time Frame: 28 days
Death that occurs during Hospital stay
28 days
Hospital Mortality
Time Frame: 28 days
Death that occurs during ICU stay
28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gustavo Plotnikow, RT, Hospital Britanico

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 11, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 14, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

February 20, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 31, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 27, 2025

Last Verified

May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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