Use Of Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Research Articles

Oxygen therapy in COPD and interstitial lung disease: navigating the knowns and unknowns.

Domiciliary oxygen therapy is often prescribed for patients with hypoxaemia due to advanced lung disease, most commonly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) trials conducted in patients with COPD in the 1980s remain the basis for clinical decisions and guideline recommendations regarding LTOT for patients with non-COPD conditions as there is a lack of high-quality evidence concerning its use in the non-COPD population. There is also a lack of evidence for the use of ambulatory and nocturnal oxygen therapy in patients with isolated exertional and nocturnal hypoxaemia. These deficiencies pose significant challenges in patient care, with consequent discrepancies in guideline recommendations and clinical approaches. In recent years, new studies have been and are currently being conducted to fill the gaps in our understanding and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy for other indications, including ILD. This article provides a comparison of the epidemiology and significance of hypoxaemia in patients with COPD and ILD, with an up-to-date review of current evidence regarding the role of different types of domiciliary oxygen therapy in these conditions.

P114 Patients’ perspectives on the use of domiciliary oxygen therapy in interstitial lung disease

Domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT) is commonly prescribed for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and hypoxaemia with the aim of improving symptoms and functional status, and possibly survival. This qualitative study aimed to explore perspectives of patients with ILD about DOT and to compare insights from patients using and …

Outcomes associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder requiring hospitalization.

Background:Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The present study was done to ascertain failures rates following AECOPD and to evaluate factors associated with frequent readmissions.Materials and Methods:We conducted a prospective study among 186 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous re-admissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post-discharge. Failure rates following treatment were ascertained during the follow-up period. All the patients were followed up for a period of 2 years after discharge to evaluate re-admissions for the AECOPD.Results:Of 186 COPD patients admitted for AECOPD, 54% had one or more readmission, and another 45% had two or more readmissions over a period of 2 years. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients, low vaccination prevalence and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 12% mortality was observed in the present study. Immediate failure rates after first exacerbation was observed to be 34.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that duration >20 years (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.10-0.86), use of Tiotropium (OR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.12-4.69) and use of co-amoxiclav during first admission (OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.21-4.79) were significantly associated with higher immediate failure rates. The multivariate analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.27-0.93), low usage of inhaled ICS + LABA (OR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.08-4.54), and MRC dyspnea grade >3 (OR = 2.51; 95% CI: 1.08-5.82) were independently associated with frequent re-admissions for AECOPD.Conclusions:The outcomes of patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of COPD were poor. The major factors influencing frequency of repeated COPD exacerbations were disease duration, low usage of inhaled ICS + LABA, and MRC dyspnea grade >3.

Risk Factors for Frequent Hospital Readmissions for Acute Exacerbations of COPD

Background: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality and have a significant socioeconomic impact. The factors that determine frequent hospital readmissions for AECOPD are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to EVALUATE the factors responsible for the repeated admissions for AECOPD. Methodology: We conducted a prospective study of 235 patients with COPD with one or more admissions for acute exacerbations in a tertiary care hospital. Frequency of previous readmissions for AECOPD in the past year, and clinical characteristics, including spirometry were ascertained in the stable state both before discharge and at 6-month post discharge. All the patients were followed up for a period of two years after discharge to evaluate the readmissions for the acute exacerbations. Results: Among 149 COPD patients who were admitted and assessed for AECOPD, there were 278 readmissions for AECOPD over a follow-up period of 24 months. Of these, 27% had one readmission, while rest 78% had two or more readmissions during this period. There was a high prevalence of current or ex-heavy smokers, associated co-morbidity, underweight patients and low prevalence of vaccination and use of domiciliary oxygen therapy among COPD patients. A total of 15.4% mortality was observed in the present study. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for repeated admissions revealed that disease duration >10 years (OR =0.50; 95% CI: 0.27 -0.93), non-use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.26–4.88), lower serum albumin level (<2gm/dl) (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.26–0.88), MRC dyspnea grade > 3 (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 2.56–4.89), body mass index (BMI) <20 (OR =0.62, 95% CI: 0.31-1.23) and non-use of Tiotropium (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.67-2.19) were independently associated with frequent readmissions for AECOPD. Conclusion: The repeated exacerbations in COPD were common with major burden to the society. The major factors influencing frequency of repeated COPD exacerbations were disease duration, non-prescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS +LABA) and Tiotropium, lower serum albumin level (<2gm/dl), lower BMI and MRC dyspnea grade > 3.

El control de la oxigenoterapia domiciliaria en un hospital comarcal

This study aimed a) to evaluate correct use of domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT); b) to estimate the prevalence of DOT, and c) to evaluate DOT based on the same parameters after intervention by the monitoring team. Cross-sectional, prospective study of all patients receiving DOT before and after initiation of monitoring. We administered spirometric tests, analyzed indications for and compliance with DOT and monitored pulse oxymetry in order to adjust oxygen flow. Seventy-six patients were receiving DOT (63/100,000 inhabitants). Among the 60 patients with COPD, half met ideal indications for prescribing DOT, 65% complied with over 15 h of DOT, and hypoxemia was not corrected for 26%. Monitoring resulted in withdrawal of DOT from 28 patients (reduction of 37%), and DOT was prescribed for 27 new patients, 11 of whom received liquid oxygen. At the end of the study, 46 patients were receiving DOT (38/100,000 inhabitants). a) Ideal indications for DOT, adequate compliance and correction of hypoxemia were observed in 54% of the patients undergoing therapy; b) creation of a special service to care for patients receiving DOT improves monitoring, and c) the prevalence of DOT in our area has been reduced from 63 to 38/100,000 inhabitants.

Utilidad de la visita a domicilio en el control y valoración del uso apropiado de la oxigenoterapia continua domiciliaria

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of home visits to monitor and evaluate the appropriate use of domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT). Appropriateness was based on the coincidence of circumstances needed to predict benefit from DOT: appropriate indications correct hypoxemia and patient compliance. All patients receiving DOT residing in the town of L'Hospitalet (Barcelona) in June 1994 were enrolled. During a home visit to each patient a questionnaire was administered and spirometric variables, CO in exhaled air and pulse oximetry were recorded. If DOT was not considered appropriate, the patient was referred to the hospital clinic for reevaluation of the prescription. One hundred twenty-eight patients (74% men) were visited. Mean age was 68 years. Use of DOT was seen to be appropriate in only 26% of patients. The prescription of DOT was considered strictly correct in 73 patients (49%); 13 of them were seen to have continued smoking. Of the 60 remaining patients, hypoxemia was correct with oxygen therapy in 46, and of these only 33 complied with DOT. The home visit combined with hospital monitoring allowed us to withdraw DOT from 20 patients, for whom the indications had been incorrect, and to introduce changes in oxygen supply sources for 16 patients who carried pumps. Fourteen started using a concentrator and 2 began using liquid oxygen. Periodic review is necessary for optimal treatment of DOT. The home visit is a good tool for improving DOT follow-up, as it allows the patient to be assessed in the setting where DOT is really applied. It is a monitoring method that is well accepted by the patient.