title: The importance of understanding epidemiology in order to inform financial decisions: a lesson from the Scottish Home Oxygen Service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ensure that decisions on the future planning of the Scottish Home Oxygen Service reflect population needs by examining the epidemiology of the main conditions that require home oxygen therapy and trends in their management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of routinely available vital event and health service data supplemented by published literature. Use of linked data to provide person-based analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consideration of trends in key risk factors, disease incidence, prevalence and mortality for chronic neonatal lung disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic interstitial lung disease in adults and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Examination of trends in management of these conditions including hospital admissions, length of stay and re-admissions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of all the conditions studied has increased in Scotland over recent years due to a combination of increased incidence, increased survival, more active case finding and demographic changes. There have been changes in management with trends towards shorter hospital stays.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical need for home oxygen therapy is likely to continue to increase over the next 10-20 years. It will encompass all age groups and a complex range of conditions. Public health needs to be proactive in providing relevant needs assessment information to ensure that planning within financial constraints is appropriately informed on population needs.
authors.affiliation: NHS National Services Scotland, Gyle Square, 1 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9EB, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006285:Health Planning / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology