3.1 Study population
Data was available for analysis on 106 patients, of which 44 were in the DS group and 62 were in the non-DS group (Table 1). Within both groups 55% were female. There was no significant difference in overall mean age between the DS and non-DS cohorts, 4.92 ± 0.68 years and 5.54 ± 0.49 years (p=0.449), respectively. However, further division of the cohorts into three age groups revealed a significant difference between the youngest age groups. The DS cohort within age group one (n=22) were initiated on NIV significantly earlier than those in the non-DS cohort (n=29), 0.98 ± 0.26 years versus 2.19 ± 0.34 years, p=0.011.
A cardiac disorder was the most common co-morbidity associated with DS observed within this cohort (77%). Twenty patients (45%) of the cohort had previous cardiac surgery. Twelve children (27%) in the cohort had a history of a congenital airway abnormality and 16 (36%) had a past history of ENT surgery.
The most common diagnosis for which NIV treatment was initiated in the non-DS cohort was OSA; twenty-four children (36%) had a primary diagnosis of OSA.