The impact of the Danish Oxygen Register on adherence to guidelines for long-term oxygen therapy in COPD patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of The Danish Oxygen Register on COPD patients' treatment modalities, survival, and adherence to guidelines for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).


METHODS
The Danish Oxygen Register.


METHODS
8487 COPD patients who received LTOT in the study period from November 1, 1994, to December 31, 2000.


METHODS
Follow-up, smoking status, correct prescription of LTOT (15-24h/day), and survival.


RESULTS
During the study period an increasing number of patients were prescribed LTOT in connection with discharge after hospitalisation for an exacerbation (1995 vs. 2000: 74.4% vs. 82.2%, P<0.001), were prescribed oxygen 15-24h/day (66.2% vs. 85.5%, P<0.001), had delivered oxygen concentrator or liquid oxygen (77.8% vs. 96.9%, P<0.001), and had mobile oxygen (29.9% vs. 42.8%, P<0.001). Only 65.8% of the patients were followed-up in an outpatient clinic with the possibility of re-evaluation of the criteria for LTOT and adjustment for oxygen flow, with no change during the study period (P=0.43). In a representative subsample, 77.1% had smoking habits or measurement of CO-level registered in 1995 compared to 79.6% in year 2000 (P=0.65), and 25.1% vs. 21.2% (P=0.34) were considered current smokers. The median survival increased from 1.07 to 1.40 years (P=0.032).


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to guidelines for LTOT has improved concerning administration of oxygen, but has remained poor concerning follow-up of the patients and smoking cessation. Survival of COPD patients on LTOT has improved during the observation period.
Ringbaek
Thomas J
TJ
Department of Respiratory Medicine ,University Hospital of Copenhagen, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. ringbaek@stofanet.dk
Lange
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate
D010100:Oxygen