Domiciliary oxygen for interstitial lung disease.
BACKGROUND
Retrospective survival data have suggested poor effectiveness of oxygen therapy in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of domiciliary oxygen therapy on survival and quality of life in patients with a diagnosis of ILD and hypoxaemia.


METHODS
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were identified using the Cochrane Airways Group register and the search terms: (home OR domiciliary AND oxygen AND (Interstitial lung disease OR ILD OR pulmonary fibrosis OR IPF)).


METHODS
Any randomized controlled trial (RCT) in adult patients with hypoxaemia and ILD that compared long term domiciliary or home oxygen therapy with a control group.


METHODS
Only one unpublished RCT was identified.


RESULTS
Only one trial was identified. Mortality for both the oxygen treated and control groups was approximately 91% after 3 years (Peto odds ratio 0.99, 95% confidence intervals 0.16,6.26). The effect of oxygen therapy on quality of life and physiological parameters was not reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The assumption that home oxygen therapy has a beneficial survival effect in patients with ILD has not been demonstrated in the single RCT identified.
Crockett
A J
AJ
Respiratory Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5042. alan.crockett@flinders.edu.au
Cranston
J M
JM
Antic
N
N
D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic