Meta-analysis of oxygen inhalation therapy with humidifying and non-humidifying oxygen

Abstract

Objective To evaluate patient outcomes of sustained low flow oxygen inhalation therapy with humidifying and non-humidifying oxygen. Methods Randomized controlled trial (RCT) about sustained low flow oxygen therapy with humidifying and non-humidifying oxygen were searched from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, VIP database, PubMed on line. Literatures were searched from the database had been established till now. The primary outcome of the rate of unpleasant respiratory symptoms, oxygen humidification cylinder pollution as well as secondary lower respiratory tract infections were attached importance to. Two reviewers evaluated the literatures independently according to the RCT authentic assessment manual of Cochrane Collaboration. Negotiation took as the measure to attach an agreement. RevMan 5.2 was used to analyses the result of the study. Results A total of 15 met the inclusion criteria, Meta-analysis showed that humidifying and non-humidifying oxygen was not statistically significant with the rate of unpleasant respiratory symptoms (P >0.05).Non-humidifying group was better than humidity group at the rate of oxygen humidification cylinder pollution and the secondary lower respiratory symptoms (Z=2.50, 2.44,P <0.05). Conclusions Low flow nasal oxygen inhalation therapy may not have to use humidifying oxygen. Key words: Oxygen inhalation therapy; Humidification; Meta-analysis