RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Evolution of Home Mechanical Ventilation in Poland Between 2000 and 2010 JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 577 OP 585 DO 10.4187/respcare.03126 VO 60 IS 4 A1 Jacek Nasiłowski A1 Mariusz Wachulski A1 Wojciech Trznadel A1 Witalij Andrzejewski A1 Marek Migdał A1 Wojciech Drozd A1 Andrzej Pytel A1 Robert Suchanke A1 Małgorzata Czajkowska-Malinowska A1 Tomasz Majszyk A1 Zbigniew Szkulmowski A1 Ryszarda Chazan YR 2015 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/60/4/577.abstract AB BACKGROUND: Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a routine method of treatment for patients with chronic ventilatory failure. Over the last 20 y, a marked development in HMV has been noted in terms of its prevalence and the changing proportion of patients with various indications. However, data on HMV come exclusively from the developed countries of Europe and North America. Nowadays, we can see the emergence of HMV in less developed countries. This study aimed to describe the development of HMV in Poland. METHODS: Data from the largest HMV centers were retrospectively evaluated with regard to cause of respiratory failure, ventilation technique, and characteristics of the HMV-implementing institution. RESULTS: The number of subjects treated with HMV increased from 8 in 2000 to 928 in 2010. Neuromuscular diseases remained the main indication. However, their relative contribution decreased from 100 to 51% in favor of pulmonary diseases (an increase from 0 to 21%) and hypoventilation syndromes (0% in 2000 and 11% in 2010). The majority of the HMV population treated between 2000 between 2008 was ventilated by tracheostomy; however, since 2007, the percentage of subjects on noninvasive ventilation significantly increased and was equal to the number of tracheostomized subjects. HMV was initiated mainly in ICUs. However, their role systematically diminished, and an increasing number of subjects were recruited in respiratory departments. CONCLUSIONS: The prescription pattern of HMV in Poland has evolved, and there is a clear shift from neuromuscular to respiratory diseases. The prevalence of ventilation via tracheostomy still remains very high in comparison with other European countries. The Polish experience could be useful for countries with emerging HMV care systems.