Table 5 Suggested criteria for non-invasive ventilation (NIV): Provisional European consensus criteria for NIV (European ALS/MND Consortium and European Neuromuscular Centre workshop on non-invasive ventilation in MND, May 2002) [with permission from Leigh et al. 2003]

• Dyspnoea

• Orthopnoea

• Disturbed sleep (not caused by pain)

• Morning headache

• Poor concentration

• Anorexia

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 9)

AND

Evidence of respiratory muscle weakness (FVC ≤ 80% or SNP ≤ 40 cmH2O)

AND

Evidence of EITHER:

significant nocturnal desaturation on overnight oximetry

OR

morning ear lobe blood gas pCO₂ ≥ 6.5 kPa