Predicting Nocturnal Hypoventilation in Hypercapnic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Undergoing Long-Term Oxygen Therapy

arterial blood gas sample as compared to the awake levels. Results: Seventeen patients (21%) developed NHV. NHV was associated with the values of BMI, hemoglobin, hematocrits, DL CO, and Pa O 2 reached after oxygen administration. In the logistic regression analysis BMI (OR 1.26, 95 % CI 1.068–1.481; p = 0.006) and the diurnal increase of Pa O 2 after O 2 (OR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.807–0.972; p = 0.010) were the variables that best discriminated with a sensitivity of 82 % and a specificity of 78%. Conclusions: NHV is a relatively common finding in sta-ble hypercapnic COPD patients undergoing LTOT and it is related to a higher BMI and lower Pa O 2 after oxygen admin-istration. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Base