Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) plus usual care v usual care alone for respiratory failure precipitated by an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*
| Outcomes at 7.6–35 days | Number of trials (n) | Weighted event rates | RRR (95% CI) | NNT (CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPPV plus usual care | Usual care alone | ||||
| *Treatment failure = a composite of all cause mortality, endotracheal intubation, and intolerance to the allocated treatment. Other abbreviations defined in glossary; weighted event rates, RRR, and CI calculated from data in article using a fixed effects model. | |||||
| Treatment failure | 8 (541) | 19.7% | 41.7% | 52% (37 to 63) | 5 (4 to 7) |
| All cause mortality | 10 (622) | 10.8% | 20.8% | 48% (24 to 65) | 10 (7 to 25) |
| Endotracheal intubation | 14 (758) | 16.5% | 40.5% | 59% (47 to 67) | 5 (4 to 6) |
