Nebulised Hypertonic Saline in Children and Young People With Neuromuscular Disease and Cerebral Palsy

Pneumonia, respiratory exacerbations, and chronic pulmonary infection are important causes of emergency admissions, hospitalisations and death in children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy. Hence, there is a need for research on how to therapeutically aid airway clearance and decrease respiratory exacerbations. Studies have shown that nebulised Hypertonic Saline is well tolerated, reduces pulmonary exacerbations and improves lung function and Lung Clearance Index in patients with Cystic Fibrosis, and enhances mucociliary clearance in asthmatic patients. Nevertheless, to the investigators' knowledge, there is no available data concerning the use of nebulised Hypertonic Saline in the management of children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of nebulised Hypertonic Saline to decrease hospitalisations and courses of antibiotics in children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy.

Chart review of children and young people with Neuromuscular disease or Cerebral Palsy who are cared for in the Royal Brompton Hospital and that have been treated with nebulised hypertonic saline for at least 12 months.

To further complement data from hospital records, two questionnaires will be applied. Parents of children who meet criteria will be asked to complete the following questionnaires:

1. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for Hospitalisation and access to are - HUQ.010; and
2. Questionnaire on Hypertonic Saline treatment.

Children from 10 - 18 years will be asked to complete the Questionnaire on Hypertonic Saline treatment.

AIMS

1. Explore whether treatment with nebulised Hypertonic Saline in children with Neuromuscular disease or Cerebral Palsy decreases respiratory-related complications.
2. Evaluate whether the treatment with nebulised hypertonic saline in children with neuromuscular disease or cerebral palsy improves the ease of airway clearance.
3. Explore how parents of children with Neuromuscular disease and children with Cerebral Palsy perceive the treatment with nebulised hypertonic saline compared with previous management.

Sample Size:

The investigators aim to recruit 40 participants for each group, including children and young people and their parents or legal guardians, as this is a pilot study.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PLAN

* Univariate X2 analysis for categorical variables to investigate Courses of antibiotic treatment.
* Univariate X2 analysis for categorical variables to investigate Number of hospitalisations.
* Student t testing will be used to analyse nocturnal oxygenation and ventilation outcomes comparing one year before and after starting treatment with Hypertonic Saline.
* Independent t testing and Mann-Whitney U test to analyse Rate of decline in pulmonary function.
* Cox proportional hazard model to test differences in primary endpoints for different baseline FVC.
* Univarate analysis to analyse Ease of airway clearance.
* Univariate analysis on perception of treatment.

Data and all appropriate documentation will be stored for a minimum of 10 years after the completion of the study, including the follow-up period.

ETHICS APPROVAL The Study Coordination Centre has obtained approval from the Yorkshire \& The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee (REC) and Health Regulatory Authority (HRA). The study also received confirmation of capacity and capability from each participating NHS Trust before accepting participants into the study or any research activity was carried out. The study will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations for physicians involved in research on human subjects adopted by the 18th World Medical Assembly, Helsinki 1964 and later revisions.

CONSENT Consent to enter the study must be sought from each participant only after a full explanation has been given, an information leaflet offered and time allowed for consideration. Signed participant consent should be obtained. The right of the participant to refuse to participate without giving reasons must be respected. After the participant has entered the study the clinician remains free to give alternative treatment to that specified in the protocol at any stage if he/she feels it is in the participant's best interest, but the reasons for doing so should be recorded. In these cases the participants remain within the study for the purposes of follow-up and data analysis. All participants are free to withdraw at any time from the protocol treatment without giving reasons and without prejudicing further treatment.

CONFIDENTIALITY The Chief Investigator will preserve the confidentiality of participants taking part in the study and is registered under the Data Protection Act.

PUBLICATION POLICY Data ownership rights will lie with the institution. Findings of this study will be presented as a Dissertation and will be available through Open Access. The investigators aim to publish findings in peer-review journals.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Children with Neuromuscular disease or Cerebral Palsy who have been on treatment with nebulised Hypertonic Saline for at least 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.