Results
Thirty of the forty-one (73%) patients approached were enrolled and
able to perform spirometry in both sitting and supine positions. The
mean age at testing was 11.5 years (SD ±3.0). Thirty controls without
respiratory or sleep pathology were recruited Characteristics of the two
study groups are shown in Table 2.
Specific neuromuscular diagnoses were heterogeneous, with the majority
(17/30; 57%) having Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [DMD] (Table 1).
Children with NMD were further categorized as unsupported in sleep (i.e.
spontaneously breathing: N=22) or established on nocturnal NIV
[N=8].