Study Design
This study is a 10-year multi-centred retrospective review of all
children who initiated long-term NIV in the province of Alberta, Canada,
from January 2005 to December 2014, with patients followed until
December 2015. Data were collected from the medical charts and sleep
laboratory records of children at the Stollery Children’s Hospital
(Edmonton) and the Alberta Children’s Hospital (Calgary). These two NIV
programs provided care for the majority, if not all, of children using
NIV in the province and the surrounding catchment area. The study was
approved by the respective Health Research Ethics Boards at
participating institutions.