Canadian Respiratory Journal
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 3915237, 13 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3915237

Review Article

Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in Chronic Heart Failure

Hao Jiang,¹ Yi Han,² Chenqi Xu,1,3 Jun Pu,¹ and Ben He¹

¹Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
²Department of Geriatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
³Renal Division and Molecular Cell Laboratory for Kidney Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

Received 3 June 2016; Revised 22 August 2016; Accepted 4 October 2016

Academic Editor: Zhongheng Zhang

Copyright © 2016 Hao Jiang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Instruction and Objectives. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) alleviates sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and it may improve cardiac function in SDB patients. Because large randomized controlled trials directly evaluating the impact of NPPV on cardiac function are lacking, we conducted a meta-analysis of published data on effectiveness of NPPV in improving cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure regardless of SDB presence. Methods. Controlled trials were identified in PubMed, OVID, and EMBASE databases. Both fixed and randomized models were used in meta-analysis with primary outcomes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results. Nineteen studies were included with a total of 843 patients. Compared to standard medical treatment (SMT) plus sham-NPPV or SMT only, NPPV plus SMT was associated with improvement in LVEF (weighted mean difference 5.34, 95% CI, ; ) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (weighted mean difference −117.37, 95% CI, ; ) and no influence on overall mortality (RR 1.00, 95% CI, ; ). Conclusions. In the present meta-analysis, use of NPPV plus SMT improved LVEF and reduced plasma BNP level but did not improve overall mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.

1. Introduction

According to an estimate by the American Heart Association (AHA), 5.1 million American adults suffered from heart failure (HF) in 2014 [1]. Although survival has improved over time, 5-year mortality of HF patients remains high at about 50% [2–4]. HF also poses a large financial burden on the healthcare system amounting in 2012 to approximately 20.9 million dollars in direct medical costs in the United States [5].

Forty percent to half of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and impaired left ventricular function go on to develop sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), either obstructive or central sleep apnea (OSA or CSA) [6–9], both of which disrupt the normal relaxing effects of sleep on the cardiovascular system. Accumulated evidence suggested that SDB accelerates the progression of CHF. SDB induces hypoxia and hypercapnia, promotes autonomic imbalance with sympathetic activation and parasympathetic inhibition, and increases the blood pressure and left ventricular afterload, all of which are stimuli to myocardial ischemia [10–12], adverse cardiac remodeling [13–15], and left ventricular dysfunction [16, 17]. Among the modalities of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) used to treat SDB in CHF patients, continuous positive airway pressure (cPAP) attenuates central sleep apnea, improves nocturnal oxygenation and left ventricular systolic function, and reduces excitability of the overactivated sympathetic nervous system [18–21]. The more recent adaptive servoventilation (ASV) also alleviates SDB and it may improve cardiac function in CHF patients [22–27].

Perhaps because of limitations in sample size, incomplete data reporting, and population differences, not all studies on NPPV have yielded positive results in terms of cardiac function improvement. For instance, Pepperell et al. found no difference in change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between ASV treated patients and controls [25]; Egea et al. found no significant improvement in 6 min walking test between the cPAP and control groups [28]; and both Ferrier et al. and Hastings et al. found that neither cPAP nor ASV significantly decreased plasma BNP concentration [29, 30].

We therefore sought to explore in a meta-analysis if adult patients with CHF would benefit from NPPV in improving cardiac function, in the form of cPAP or ASV, as compared to standard medical treatment (SMT).

2. Methods

2.1. Search Strategy and Literature Screening

A systematic literature review was undertaken on January 26th, 2015, using PubMed, OVID, and EMBASE databases. To retrieve the largest number of potentially related studies, the following terms were used individually: “noninvasive positive pressure ventilation,” “continuous positive airway pressure,” “bilevel positive airway pressure,” “adaptive servo-ventilation,” and “heart failure.” Articles were first screened by title and abstract, and reviews, meta-analyses, guidelines, letters, case reports, clinical trials in children, newborns, or postsurgical patients, and animal experiments were excluded. Three studies with full texts not written in English also were excluded.

The following criteria then were used to identify potentially suitable studies in a second screen: the trials were (a) well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasirandomized controlled trials (qRCTs), and nonrandomized controlled trials; (b) enrolled subjects were adults older than 18 years and diagnosed with chronic heart failure, with or without sleep-disordered breathing (SDB); and (c) the intervention was noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the form of continuous positive airway pressure (cPAP), adaptive servoventilation (ASV), or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), plus standard medical treatment (SMT), while the control treatment was SMT plus sham-NPPV or SMT only; and (d) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) must be included in the study outcomes.

After the above-mentioned screening, the authors obtained the full text articles and read them carefully and independently. Articles meeting the following criteria were excluded: (a) follow-up period was less than 4 weeks; (b) number of study participants was less than 10; (c) crossover-design was excluded if data before washout were not reported or unavailable; (d) outcome LVEF was only reported by a descriptive conclusion (original data or processed data were not reported or available); and (e) subjects from subgroup analysis of the other clinical trials were repeatedly counted. In addition, we excluded articles including BiPAP from the final analysis because BiPAP worsens, rather than improves, central apneas [31].

2.2. Data Extraction and Processing

Two authors extracted data independently. Descriptive data include first author, publication year, study design, duration of study arms, duration of washout (if applicable), type of control used, HF inclusion criteria, SDB inclusion criteria, proportion of male patients, mean age, and mean BMI (if available). For outcome data, the mean together with standard deviation (SD) at baseline and end-trial time point was extracted for the NPPV and control arms. Standard error of the mean (SEM) was converted into SD. The change in mean was calculated as end-trial value minus baseline value. Variables reported in interquartile range were converted into mean using the method provided in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.0.1) [32]. The change in SD was calculated using the formula also provided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.0.1) [32]. For the present meta-analysis, BNP was expressed in pg/mL using the conversion factor provided by Weber and Hamm [33] when different units were used. Events were defined as refractory heart failure and worsening heart failure if (1) events reported as refractory heart failure, or (2) events reported as heart failure worsening after NPPV application, or (3) events reported as unstable need emergency transplantation and readmission due to heart failure worsening. In particular, for outcome in crossover studies, the mean and variability in the NPPV and control arms before washout were extracted (if available) in this article.

2.3. Data Analysis

Two authors (Chenqi Xu and Hao Jiang) conducted the analyses using Review Manager version 5.2 (Nordic Cochrane Center). The pooled estimate of mean weight difference (MWD) or risk ratio (RR) with their 95% CI was calculated using random effect model or fixed effect model according to heterogeneity among studies. value and statistics, calculated when the number of analyzed studies exceeded three, were used as heterogeneity measures. A fixed effect model was used if there was no significant heterogeneity (%); otherwise, the random effects model would be applied for meta-analysis. A forest plot was constructed based on the results of pooled analysis of the NPPV and control arms. The primary outcome of this meta-analysis was LVEF. Subgroup analysis based on the degree of LVEF and reported geographical location was performed. Moreover, sensitivity analyses were performed to identify the effect of a single trial by sequential elimination of each trial from the pool and then to assess the overall outcomes. Statistical significance was set at value < 0.05. Risk of bias was evaluated carefully and tabulated with brief details by Jun Pu, M.D.

3. Results

3.1. Literature Search

In a search of the PubMed database, 1478 potential articles were identified. After applying the prespecified exclusion and inclusion criteria, the full texts of 75 articles were read, yielding 23 eligible studies. During data extraction and analysis, 4 additional studies were excluded for different reasons: Smith et al. (2007) [34] did not report the mean and variability before washout; Zhang et al. (2006) [35] conducted a trial over a period of 1 week, which was too short to meet the inclusion criteria; Gilman et al. (2008) [36] entailed a subgroup analysis of the CANPAP trial, that is, a redundant population; and Campbell et al. (2011)’s study included a population that was not large enough. Finally, 19 studies were included in the pooled analysis. The study selection process is outlined in Figure 1. Characteristics of the included 19 studies are presented in Table 1. The risk of bias is presented in Figure 2. The included studies showed relatively high quality with an acceptable risk of bias overall (Figure 2(a)). However, there was high performance risk and detection bias in most of the studies (Figure 2(b)).

Table 1: Characteristics of 19 studies included in meta-analysis.

Study
Length of follow-up
Location
Ventilator mode
Ventilator parameters
Ventilator connection method
Patients
Control
Trial (m/f), age (ys)
Control (m/f), age
Results

Arzt et al. 2005
3 months
Germany
CPAP
CPAP: 8 to 12 cm H₂O
Face mask
CHF with CSA
Nasal oxygen treatment
14 (NP), 64.0 ± 2
10 (NP), 65.0 ± 2
Ventilatory efficiency LVEF

Bradley et al. 2005
2 years
Canada
CPAP
CPAP: 10 cm H₂O
Face mask
CHF with CSA
SMT
128 (125/3), 63.2 ± 9.1
130 (123/7), 63.5 ± 9.8
Effect of CPAP on CSA and LVEF Death rates

Egea et al. 2008
3 months
Spain
CPAP
NP
Face mask
CHF with SA
Sham-CPAP
28 (24/4), 64.0 ± 0.9
32 (29/3), 63.0 ± 1.6
AHI and LVEF

Ferrier et al. 2008
6 months
New Zealand
CPAP
NP
Face mask
CHF with OSA
SMT
19 (16/3), 58.5 ± 11.2
7 (3/4), 60.3 ± 4.3
LVEF, SBP, BNP, LVESD, LVEDD

Granton et al. 1996
3 months
Canada
NCPAP
CPAP: 10 to 12.5 cm H₂O
Nasal mask
CHF with CSR-CSA
SMT
9 (NP), 58.3 ± 2.2
8 (NP), 58.0 ± 2.0
MIP and MEP, LVEF, dyspnea

Haruki et al. 2011
6 months
Japan
ASV
EPAP: 5 cm H₂O
IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
Face mask
CHF
SMT
15 (11/4), 67.0 ± 11.0
11 (8/3), 67.0 ± 14.0
LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV

Hastings et al. 2010
6 months
United Kingdom
ASV
NP
Face mask
CHF with SA
SMT
11 (NP), 61.3 ± 10.0
8 (NP), 64.5 ± 8.0
AHI, LVEF, BNP

Johnson et al. 2008
6.9 ± 3.3 months
Canada and United States
CPAP
CPAP: 10.6 ± 1.6 cm
H₂O
Nasal mask
Face mask
CHF with OSA
SMT
7 (7/0), 61.0 ± 12.0
5 (5/0), 62.0 ± 9.0
Stroke volume, LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV

Joho et al. 2012
3.5 ± 0.8 months
Japan
ASV
EPAP: 4-5 cm H₂O IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
Face mask
CHF with CSA
SMT
20 (18/2), 62.0 ± 11.0
12 (10/2), 68.0 ± 9.0
LVEF, LVDd, LVDs, BNP, MSNA

Kaneko et al. 2003
1 month
Canada
CPAP
CPAP: 8.9 ± 0.7 cm H₂O
NP
CHF with OSA
SMT
12 (11/1), 55.9 ± 2.5
12 (10/2), 55.2 ± 3.6
BP, HR, LVESD, LVEDD, LVEF

Koyama et al. 2010
1 month
Japan
ASV
EPAP: 4 cm H₂O
IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
NP
CHF with SDB
SMT
10 (8/2), 68.4 ± 4.0
7 (4/3), 71.4 ± 7.6
AHI hs-CRP BNP LVEF

Koyama et al. 2011
12 months
Japan
ASV
EPAP: 5 cm H₂O
IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
NP
CHF with SDB
SMT
27 (23/4), 74.8 ± 7.6
16 (13/3), 75.4 ± 6.4
eGFRhs-CRP, LVEF

Mansfield et al. 2004
3 months
Australia
CPAP
CPAP: 8.8 ± 1.4 mm Hg
Nasal mask
CHF with OSA
SMT
28 (28/0), 57.2 ± 1.7
27 (24/3), 57.5 ± 1.6
LVEF, UNE

Naughton et al. 1995
1 month
Canada
NCPAP
CPAP: 10 to 12.5 cm H₂O
Nasal mask
CHF with CSR-CSA
SMT
12 (NP), 61.0 ± 3.2
12 (NP), 56.6 ± 3.2
LVEF effect of NCPAP on CSA

Oldenburg et al. 2011
12 months
Germany
ASV
EPAP: 4-5 cm H₂O
IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
Face mask
CHF with CSR
SMT and CPAP noncompliance
56 (54/2), 67.7 ± 9.5
59 (52/7), 62.5 ± 11.8
NT-proBNP
LVEF parameters of SDB

Pepperell et al. 2003
1 month
United Kingdom
ASV
EPAP: 5 cm H₂O
IPAP: 3–10 cm H₂O
NP
CHF with CSR
Subtherapeutic ASV
15 (15/0), 71.4 ± 8.6
15 (14/1), 70.9 ± 7.9
Osler test BNP

Tkacova et al. 1997
1 month
Canada
CPAP
CPAP: 10 to 12.5 cm H₂O
Nasal mask
CHF with CSR-CSA
SMT
9 (NP), 61.0 ± 1.9
8
(NP), 58.6 ± 2.4
LVEF, ANP, MRF

Usui et al. 2005
1 month
Canada
CPAP
CPAP: 7.5 ± 0.5 cm H₂O
NP
CHF with OSA
SMT
8 (8/0), 55.0 ± 2.0
9 (7/2), 52.2 ± 4.1
MSNA, BP, HR, LVEF

Yoshihisa et al. 2011
6 months
Japan
ASV
EPAP: 4–10 mm Hg
IPAP: 4–20 mm Hg
NP
CHF with CSR-CSA
SMT
23 (20/3), 60.8 ± 13.7
37 (29/8), 60.5 ± 16.7
LVEF BNP cardiac systolic and diastolic function

CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; ASV: adaptive servoventilation; EPAP: expiratory positive airway pressure; IPAP: inspiratory positive airway pressure; NP: not provided; CHF: chronic heart failure; OSA: obstructive sleep apnea; CSR: Cheyne-Stokes respiration; CSA: central sleep apnea; SA: sleep apnea; SDB: sleep-disordered breathing; SMT: standard medical treatment; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; MSNA: muscle sympathetic nerve activity; BNP: B-type natriuretic peptide; AHI: apnea/hypopnea index; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; hs-CRP: high-sensitivity C- reactive protein; ANP: atrial natriuretic peptide; UNE: urinary norepinephrine; BP: blood pressure; HR: heart rate; MIP: maximal inspiratory pressure; MEP: maximal inspiratory pressure; LVESD: left ventricular end-systolic diameter; LVEDD: left ventricular end-diastolic dimension; LVEDV: left ventricular end-diastolic volume; LVESV: left ventricular end-systolic volume; LVDd: left ventricular end-diastolic dimension; LVDs: left ventricular end-systolic dimension.

Figure 1: Literature screening flow.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: Risk of bias of the included studies. (a) Risk of bias graph; (b) risk of bias summary.

3.2. Meta-Analysis

3.2.1. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

The weighted mean difference of the total is 5.34 favoring NPPV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity between the studies was significant (, ), and was 56%. When the study by Bradley et al. (2005) [37] was removed from the pooled analysis, changed from 56% to 33%.

The weighted mean difference of the cPAP subgroup was 3.85 favoring cPAP (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the cPAP subgroup was not significant (, ), with of 31%.

The weighted mean difference of the ASV subgroup was 6.83 favoring ASV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the ASV subgroup was significant (, ), with of 54% (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Forest plot of the effect of noninvasive positive airway pressure (cPAP and ASV) therapy for chronic heart failure on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). CI: confidence interval; IV: inverse variance; SD: standard deviation; MD: mean difference.

The weighted mean difference of LVEF < 30% was 4.94 favoring NPPV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the LVEF < 30% subgroup was significant (, ), with of 65%.

The weighted mean difference of LVEF > 30% was 5.73 favoring NPPV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the LVEF > 30% subgroup was not significant (, ), with of 19%.

The weighted mean difference of the European subgroup was 5.05 favoring ASV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the ASV subgroup was significant (, ), with of 60%.

The weighted mean difference of the Asian subgroup was 7.92 favoring ASV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the ASV subgroup was not significant (, ), with of 8.7%.

3.2.2. Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Dimension (LVEDD)

Five studies reported data on change in LVEDD between before and after intervention. The weighted mean difference of the total was −1.91 favoring NPPV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies was not significant (, ).

The weighted mean difference of the cPAP subgroup was 0.45 favoring control (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the cPAP subgroup was significant (, ), with of 74%.

The weighted mean difference of the ASV subgroup was −3.60 favoring ASV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the ASV subgroup was small (, ), with of 0%.

3.2.3. Plasma BNP Level

Six studies reported data on plasma BNP level before and after intervention; 5 from the ASV subgroup and one from the cPAP subgroup. The weighted mean difference of the total was −117.37 favoring NPPV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies was significant (, ), with of 81%.

The mean difference of the cPAP subgroup was 4.50, not significantly favoring the control (95% CI, ; ). And the weighted mean difference of the ASV subgroup was −152.58 favoring ASV (95% CI, ; ). Heterogeneity among studies in the ASV subgroup was significant (, ), with of 83%.

3.2.4. Overall Mortality

In 19 trials involving 913 patients, we did not find difference in overall mortality between patients treated with NPPV plus standard medical treatment (SMT) and with SMT alone (RR 1.00, 95% CI, ; ) (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Forest plot of the effect of noninvasive positive airway pressure (cPAP and ASV) therapy for chronic heart failure on total mortality. CI: confidence interval; M-H: inverse variance; RR: risk ratio.

3.2.5. Adverse Events

Refractory heart failure and worsening heart failure: of the 19 studies included, 6 reported the events as defined. We found no difference in the incidence of refractory heart failure and worsening heart failure between patients treated with NPPV plus SMT and SMT alone (RR 1.07, 95% CI, ; ).

Cardiac arrest: 3 studies reported the incidence of cardiac arrest and we found no difference in the incidence of cardiac arrest between the two groups (RR 1.02, 95% CI, ; ).

Angina and acute myocardial infarction (AMI): 3 studies reported the incidence of angina and AMI. We found no difference in the incidence of angina and AMI between the two groups (RR 1.01, 95% CI, ; ).

3.2.6. Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analyses by sequentially dropping individual trials and then evaluating the overall outcomes failed to identify any of the individual trials as having influenced the primary outcomes of the present meta-analysis to a significant extent (Table 2).

Table 2: Sensitivity analysis showing the effect sizes for the primary outcomes after removing individual trials included in the meta-analysis.

LVEF
Overall mortality

MD [95% CI]
P value
RR [95% CI]
P value

All trials
RE: 5.34 [3.85, 6.82]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.89 [3.08, 4.69]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Naughton et al. 1995 omitted
RE: 5.24 [3.72, 6.75]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.83 [3.02, 4.64]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Granton et al. 1996 omitted
RE: 5.23 [3.73, 6.73]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.84 [3.03, 4.65]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Tkacova et al. 1997 omitted
RE: 5.23 [3.72, 6.74]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.83 [3.02, 4.64]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Kaneko et al. 2003
RE: 5.19 [3.67, 6.72]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.75 [2.93, 4.57]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Mansfield et al. 2004
RE: 5.45 [3.90, 7.00]
<0.00001
RE: 1.01 [0.97, 1.04]
0.74

FE: 3.89 [3.08, 4.70]
<0.00001
FE: 1.01 [0.97, 1.05]
0.77

Bradley et al. 2005
RE: 5.63 [4.25, 7.00]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 5.15 [4.14, 6.17]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.03]
0.86

Usui et al. 2005
RE: 5.37 [3.85, 6.89]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.89 [3.08, 4.69]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Arzt et al. 2005
RE: 5.55 [3.99, 7.12]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.94 [3.12, 4.76]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Egea et al. 2008
RE: 5.64 [4.04, 7.24]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.03]
0.79

FE: 4.01 [3.17, 4.85]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.96

Johnson et al. 2008
RE: 5.43 [3.86, 7.00]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.87 [3.06, 4.69]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Ferrier et al. 2008
RE: 5.45 [3.88, 7.01]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.88 [3.07, 4.70]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Pepperell et al. 2003
RE: 5.50 [3.97, 7.03]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.92 [3.12, 4.73]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Koyama et al. 2010
RE: 5.04 [3.58, 6.49]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.74 [2.92, 4.55]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Hastings et al. 2010
RE: 5.09 [3.65, 6.54]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.80 [3.00, 4.61]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Oldenburg et al. 2011
RE: 5.60 [3.91, 7.29]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.04]
0.79

FE: 3.90 [3.02, 4.79]
<0.00001
FE: 1.01 [0.96, 1.05]
0.78

Koyama et al. 2011
RE: 5.21 [3.67, 6.75]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.70 [2.87, 4.53]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Haruki et al. 2011
RE: 5.23 [3.71, 6.74]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.82 [3.01, 4.63]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

Yoshihisa et al. 2011
RE: 5.33 [3.79, 6.88]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.86

FE: 3.84 [3.03, 4.65]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.87

Joho et al. 2012
RE: 4.95 [3.52, 6.38]
<0.00001
RE: 1.00 [0.97, 1.03]
0.98

FE: 3.69 [2.87, 4.50]
<0.00001
FE: 1.00 [0.96, 1.04]
0.95

LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; MD: mean difference; RR: risk ratio; RE: random effect model; FE: fixed effect model.

4. Discussion

Two main conclusions can be drawn for the present meta-analysis. Firstly, NPPV plus standard medical treatment (SMT) improved LVEF but did not improve overall mortality. Secondly, relative to SMT plus sham-NPPV/SMT alone, NPPV improved plasma BNP level but did not improve LVEDD and decrease threats of cardiac arrest events, angina, and AMI events.

4.1. Primary Outcomes

4.1.1. NPPV Improves LVEF in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

The present meta-analysis revealed that NPPV improves cardiac function by increasing LVEF. Among included studies, the majority of patients already had reduced LVEF or were in the course of developing heart failure with reduced LVEF and therefore were considered more likely to benefit from the use of NPPV. The results are consistent with those of many previous studies [19, 20, 30, 37–45]. However, several studies [21, 25, 28, 29, 46–48], most nonrandomized and with small sample sizes, showed that NPPV had no significant effects on the improvement of the cardiac function.

In our analyses, the weighted mean difference of the cPAP subgroup was 3.85 favoring cPAP, while that of the ASV subgroup was 6.83 favoring ASV. This might indicate that ASV is better than cPAP in the improvement of LVEF. However, the conclusion did not come from the direct comparison of cPAP and ASV since none of the included studies presented such a direct comparison. Interestingly, two randomized controlled trials showed that CHF patients with SDB might gain greater benefit from treatment with ASV than with CPAP [26, 49], which was consistent with our results.

The total heterogeneity of the aforementioned part of the analysis is significant (Figure 5). In the cPAP subgroup, the subtotal heterogeneity is not significant ( = 31%), while that of ASV subgroup is significant (%). To gain further insight into the heterogeneity, we performed subgroup analyses. Firstly, we used LVEF < 30% and LVEF > 30% as grouping criteria. Then, we found that when the mean LVEF of the NPPV group before intervention exceeded 30%, the weighted mean difference was favoring NPPV and the heterogeneity was small. However, when the mean LVEF of the NPPV group before intervention was 30% or less, the heterogeneity was significant. The latter result probably indicated a worse status among enrolled subjects with an LVEF of 30% or less, in turn leading to a worse prognosis and underlying a statistically significant heterogeneity.

Figure 5: Funnel plot of NPPV on LVEF.

Secondly, we analyzed the difference in LVEF-change among study regions for the ASV subgroup. According to the reported geographical location where the study was conducted, we divided the 8 studies into the European subgroup (3 studies, 2 in UK, and 1 in Spain) and Asian subgroup (5 studies, all in Japan). We found that the Asian subgroup’s heterogeneity was small (, ), while the heterogeneity of the European subgroup was significant (, %). The regional disparity, the difference between medical care systems, and even the different races of patients may underlie the observations in the present study, which warrant further study.

4.1.2. NPPV Did Not Improve Mortality

According to the result of the analysis, the use of NPPV plus SMT did not improve overall mortality among patients with chronic heart failure. The analysis showed good homogeneity among all 19 studies enrolled (, %) (Figure 6). Moreover, NPPV did not decrease cardiac adverse events in patients with chronic heart failure according to analysis of adverse events (including refractory heart failure and worsening heart failure, cardiac arrest, and angina and acute myocardial infarction), with good homogeneity among all these analyses.

Figure 6: Funnel plot of NPPV on total mortality.

Despite the aforementioned results, the impact of NPPV on overall mortality and cardiac adverse events remains to be further investigated. The longest follow-up period among the 19 studies was only 12 months and the shortest was 4 weeks. In a single center cohort study in Canada, patients with OSA were followed up for a decade; however, the study unfortunately did not provide information on cPAP use [50]. In a recent study (which was not included in the present analysis because of the lack of LVEF data), ASV increased the overall and cardiovascular mortality in CHF patients with OSA [51]. Thus, more studies are warranted to evaluate the effect of NPPV on 3-year, 5-year, and even 10-year mortality rate.

4.2. Other Secondary Outcomes

4.2.1. NPPV Did Not Reduce LVEDD, but Results of Subgroup Analyses Differed

Five studies reported changes in LVEDD. The present analysis showed that NPPV did not reduce LVEDD; however, heterogeneity was significant. Subgroup analysis, however, yielded a different result. The weighted mean difference was 0.45 favoring (not significantly) control () in the cPAP subgroup, while it was −3.60 favoring ASV () in the ASV subgroup, indicating that ASV might do better in reducing LVEDD than cPAP, although there was no direct comparison between cPAP and ASV. Further studies are warranted on LVEDD according to NPPV modality.

4.2.2. NPPV Reduces Plasma BNP Level in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Among included studies, 6 reported the plasma BNP level at baseline and after intervention. One study focuses on cPAP, while the other five studies focus on ASV. The present analysis showed that the use of NPPV reduced plasma BNP level in CHF patients. Because BNP level can be used to indicate prognosis and predict mortality and clinical outcome of patients with chronic heart failure [33, 52], the reduced BNP level may indicate a better prognosis. However, the subgroup analysis showed no significant difference between cPAP and SMT in influencing plasma BNP level. Since there is only one cPAP study involved, the conclusion may be not applicable to cPAP. Conversely, ASV showed effectiveness in reducing BNP level, possibly indicating that ASV might improve the clinical outcome of CHF patients and reduce mortality. However, the heterogeneity of the analysis was very significant, and further studies are therefore warranted.

ASV was designed to meet the patients’ ventilation support by providing inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and adjust the rate of change of airflow through sensing the patient airflow. cPAP, however, provided a continuous pressure which could not be adjusted according to the patients breath [53]. Several studies showed ASV was associated with significantly better compliance when compared with cPAP [49]. Interestingly, ASV was found to increase 1-year survival rate and reduce cardiovascular events in CHF patient, while cPAP did not show survival benefit among patients with CSA [37].

4.3. Study Limitations

Our study has several potential limitations. First, the sample sizes of component trials included in our analysis are generally not large, which may bring “small-study effects.” “Small-study effects” refer to the fact that trials with limited sample sizes are more likely to report larger beneficial effects than large trials [54, 55]. Thus, we performed sensitivity analyses to test the impact of individual trials on the overall result of meta-analysis. Second, only two studies included in our meta-analysis presented the data on NPPV compliance. Ferrier et al. pointed out patients using CPAP (>1 h per night CPAP) had the greatest increase in LVEF [29]; Joho et al. found that the change in average use of ASV correlated with changes in LVEF [41]. However, the definition of NPPV compliance in those reports was not consistent and the influence of compliance to treatment was not quantified. Thus, we did not report the influence of NPPV compliance on studied variables in the present study.

5. Conclusions

In the present meta-analysis, relative to SMT plus sham-NPPV/SMT alone, NPPV plus SMT improved LVEF and reduced plasma BNP level but did not improve overall mortality and adverse event rates.

Abbreviations

NPPV: | Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
cPAP: | Continuous positive airway pressure
ASV: | Adaptive servoventilation
BiPAP: | Bilevel positive airway pressure
SDB: | Sleep-disordered breathing
OSA: | Obstructive sleep apnea
CSA: | Central sleep apnea
CSR: | Cheyne-Stokes respiration
LVEF: | Left ventricular ejection fraction
LVEDD: | Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension
LVESD: | Left ventricular end-systolic dimension
BNP: | Brain natriuretic peptide
Peak VO₂: | Peak oxygen consumption.

Competing Interests

The authors have no financial disclosures or competing interests to declare.

Authors’ Contributions

Hao Jiang and Yi Han contributed equally to this work.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (81625002 to Jun Pu), Program for New Century Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education of China (NCET-12-0352), Shanghai Shuguang Program (12SG22), Program of Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology (15411963600 and 14JC1404500), Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support (20152209), Shanghai Jiaotong University (YG2013MS420), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (15ZH1003 and 14XJ10019).

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