title: Long-Term Respiratory Support for Children and Adolescents in Austria: A National Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Population-based data on pediatric patients on long-term respiratory support (LTRS) in Austria are lacking. This study aimed to record the pediatric departments active in this field, as well as number and characteristics of patients on LTRS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national cross-sectional study was carried out by means of questionnaires sent to all pediatric departments in Austria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All departments answered to the questionnaires. On June 1st, 2013, the reference day for this study, 12 of the 41 pediatric departments in Austria were active in the field. At this time, these centers were caring for 143 patients, 111 (77.6%) of them under 18 years, which corresponds to a prevalence of 7.4 per 100 000. The patients suffered from neuromuscular disorders (44%), other neurological disorders (18.9%), disorders of respiratory drive (9.1%), obstructive sleep apnea (8.4%), thoracal and spinal diseases (8.4%), pulmonary disorders (4.9%) and other diseases (6.3%). Continuous positive airway pressure was used in 6.3%, non-invasive ventilation in 60.1% and invasive ventilation in 33.6% of the patients, respectively. LTRS was performed at home in 92.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTRS represents a common management strategy in children and adolescents with a variety of disorders. Census reports such as this one provide the basis for appropriate planning of resource allocation. The age distribution of our patients shows the need for structured transition into adult care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Egmond-Fröhlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfleger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Moedling, Moedling, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Women's and Children's Hospital Linz, Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, SMZ Ost Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Waibel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Villach, Villach, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kenzian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Mistelbach, Mistelbach, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kommer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Center Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wadlegger
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stelzl
authors.affiliation: St. Anna Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Leoben, Leoben, Austria.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grigorow
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerbl
authors.affiliation: Medical Services, Youth and Child Welfare Services, City of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sauseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frischer
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eber
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001317:Austria; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data