A national prevalence survey has found that use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) doubled between 2011 and 2018. Prevalence rates were calculated using adult population data (aged ≥20 years) for each District Health Board region, and a subanalysis of individual-level data was used to calculate age-standardised rates by diagnostic category. In 2018, 1197 adults were receiving NIV, giving a national rate of 32.9 per 100 000 population, which compares with a rate of 16.7 per 100 000 population in 2011. However, the NIV rate varied significantly across regions, from 4.5 to 84.2 per 100 000 population. The most frequent indications for NIV were obesity hypoventilation syndrome (47%), obstructive pathologies (28%) and neuromuscular disorders (15%); all have significantly increased in prevalence since 2011. Māori and Pacific peoples were significantly overrepresented among NIV users, with age standardised rate ratios of 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72-2.93) and 7.03 (95% CI 5.52-8.94), respectively, compared with non-Māori/non-Pacific peoples.
