Impact of long-term ventilation on patients' health status.

Therapy and rehabilitation of common causes of respiratory-induced disability are directed towards a reduction of exacerbations, minimization of symptom severity, and improvement, or at least maintenance, of the patient's health. Unfortunately, these diseases are frequently complicated by chronic respiratory failure (CRF), which determines a rapid increase in the impact of the disease on the patient's daily life and well-being. Under such circumstances, the effect of therapy on a patient's health status and well-being represents the most important subjective outcome of treatment. An adequate assessment of patient's quality of life can only be obtained from the patients themselves; that is, it requires direct measurement through the use of valid and reliable questionnaires, whether generic or disease-specific. The St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and the Maugeri Foundation Respiratory Failure Questionnaire have been shown to be applicable and reliable in patients on long-term ventilation.