Introduction: The postoperative (PO) period after cardiac surgery is associated with the occurrence of respiratory complications. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is largely used as a ventilatory support strategy after the interruption of invasive mechanical ventilation. However, the variables associated with NIPPV prescription are unclear. Objective: To describe the literature on predictors of NIPPV prescription in patients during the PO period of cardiac surgery. Materials and methods: This systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) platform in December 2021 (CRD42021291973). Bibliographic searches were performed in February 2022 using the PubMed, Lilacs, Embase and PEDro databases, with no year or language restrictions. The Predictors for the prescription of NIPPV were considered among patients who achieved curative NIPPV. Results: A total of 349 articles were identified, of which four were deemed eligible and were included in this review. Three studies were retrospective studies, and one was a prospective safety pilot study. The total sample size in each study ranged from 109 to 1657 subjects, with a total of 3456 participants, of whom 283 realized NIPPV. Curative NIPPV was the only form of NIPPV in 75% of the studies, which presented this form of prescription in 5-9% of the total sample size, with men around 65 years old being the majority of the participants receiving curative NIPPV. The main indication for curative NIPPV was acute respiratory failure. Only one study realized prophylactic NIPPV (28% of 32 participants). The main predictors for the prescription of curative NIPPV in the PO period of cardiac surgery observed in this study were elevated body mass index (BMI), hypercapnia, PO lung injury, cardiogenic oedema and pneumonia. Conclusions: BMI and lung alterations related to gas exchange disturbances are major predictors for NIPPV prescription in patients during the PO period of cardiac surgery. The identification of these predictors can benefit clinical decision-making regarding the prescription of NIPPV and help conserve human and material resources, thereby preventing the indiscriminate use of NIPPV.