Comparison of Results of Sequential Home Oxygen Therapy Inpatients Using Stationary or Portable Oxygen Sources

Abstract

Introduction: Home-based oxygen therapy (long-term oxygen therapy, LTOT) uses two sources of oxygen: stationaryoxygen concentrator (OC) or portable liquid oxygen system (LO). Polish National Healthcare System reimburses onlystationary oxygen sources for home therapy.The aim of the study was to analyse the effects of switching from OC to LO in patients on LTOT. Material and methods: The study involved 30 patients qualified for home-based LTOT. Analysed parameters includeddegree of dyspnoea (MRC, Borg scale), exercise tolerance (6MWT), physical fitness, duration of daily oxygen therapy use,peripheral blood status, lung function tests, number of exacerbations and health-related quality of life (SGRQ). Analyses wereperformed before initiation of LTOT, after 6 months of therapy using OC and 6 months later, following switch to LO. Results: During the first six months of therapy, a decrease in red blood cell count (RBC) from 5.4 to 5.1 (p < 0.0001) and inhaematocrit value (Ht) from 50.1% to 47.8% (p < 0.0001) was observed, alongside an increase in 6MWT distance from 337.7 m to 378.7 m (p < 0.0001) and improved SGRQ score from 72.1 to 64.4 points (p < 0.0001).Liquid oxygen therapy resulted in further improvement of the analysed variables: RBC reduction from 5.1 to 4.8 (p < 0.0001),Ht decrease from 47.8% to 44.3% (p < 0.0001), prolongation of 6MWT distance from 378.7 m to 413 m (p < 0.0001), andimprovement in SGRQ score from 64.4 to 54.9 points (p < 0.0001). A significant increase in daily oxygen breathing hours,from 13.7 to 18.9 hours (p < 0.0001), was also observed. Results: Portable liquid oxygen sources facilitate oxygen therapy both at home and outdoors, increasing the number ofoxygen breathing hours and thus improving blood cell counts, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality of life.