Home oxygen therapy for COPD: practical aspects.
Numerous studies have indicated that home oxygen therapy is safe and practical. In advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), continuous oxygen therapy results in a higher survival rate than does administration of oxygen 12 hr/day. Practical oxygen systems are available. Thus, oxygen therapy is now established care for selected patients with advanced COPD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of oxygen therapy to combat the possible effects of transient hypoxemia in patients with COPD during sleep or exercise. COPD necessitates a preventive approach, including behavioral change if possible. Early identification by simple office spirometry and aggressive treatment designed to prevent or forestall complications of advanced disease are the next logical steps in developing a systematic, comprehensive approach aimed at the ultimate conquest of COPD in the next decade.
D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000628:therapy*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy