Adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1 who require non-invasive ventilation (NIV) often have difficulty with adherence. Few risk factors for non-adherence have been identified, and these are mostly unmodifiable. As part of a quality assurance initiative, we sought to identify psychosocial barriers to NIV adherence to improve supports around isolation and mental health. We found that substance use was associated with non-adherence to NIV in our cohort. Cognitive impairment, the receipt of provincial income support, presence of a psychiatric condition, living alone, and marital status were not associated with NIV adherence. Interventions that limit the impact of substance use may improve NIV in this population.
Moolji et al. (Wed,) studied this question.