Targeting Hypercapnia in Chronic Lung Disease and Obesity Hypoventilation: Benefits and Challenges.

Hypoventilation is a complication that is not uncommon in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and calls for both medical treatment of the underlying disease and, frequently, noninvasive ventilation either during exacerbations requiring hospitalization or in a chronic state in the patient at home. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome by definition is associated with ventilatory failure and hypercapnia. It may or may not be accompanied by obstructive sleep apnea, which when detected becomes an additional target for positive airway pressure treatment. Intensive research has not completely resolved the best choice of treatment, and the simplest modality, continuous positive airway pressure, may still be entertained.
Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr L.K. Brown coedits the Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology section of Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine and is a coauthor of an article on positive airway pressure treatment for OSA in UpToDate. Dr L.K. Brown is a member of the Council of the New Mexico Medical Society and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association. He chairs the Polysomnography Practice Advisory Committee of the New Mexico Medical Board and chairs the New Mexico Advisory Board for Respiratory Care. Dr L.K. Brown chairs the Board of Directors of GAMA-PAC, the political action committee of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association.
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