Indications for ventilation in adults Indications for ventilation in adults. * Statistically significant P value: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), P = .007; muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury (SCI), central hypoventilation, chest wall, and obesity hypoventilation, P < .001; COPD, P = .04. Indications for ventilation in adults. * Statistically significant P value: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), P = .007; muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury (SCI), central hypoventilation, chest wall, and obesity hypoventilation, P < .001; COPD, P = .04. IMV = invasive mechanical ventilation; NIV = noninvasive ventilation; other = see text for full description. Louise Rose et al. Respir Care 2015;60:695-704 (c) 2012 by Daedalus Enterprises, Inc.