Community Physician-Guided Long-Term Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Combined With Conventional Therapy in Stage IV COPD Patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to explore clinical effect of community physician-guided long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTDOT) on patients with Stage IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with Stage IV COPD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (the LTDOT group and the control group). Patients in LTDOT group accepted additional oxygen therapy for more than 15 hours every day with continuous low flow (1-2 L/min) for 3 years.


RESULTS
PaO2 (O2 pressure), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity), and FEV1% (percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second) in the LTDOT group increased significantly after treatment. A significant decrease was observed on the BODE index in the LTDOT group (p < .05) but not in control group (p > .05). Frequencies and costs of hospitalization therapy and emergency medical services were markedly decreased after 3 years of LTDOT.


CONCLUSIONS
Community physician-guided LTDOT can improve prognosis and reduce the costs for stage IV COPD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation nurses can be instrumental in helping patients with stage IV COPD learn principles of LTDOT.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai, China.
Hong
H
Bao
Jiaman
J
Wang
Ding
D
Zhou
Zhaoyong
Z
Han
Yuan
Y
Zhang
Ling
L
Su
Xiong
X
Ye
Chunyan
C
Xu
Meihong
M
Fu
Qinghua
Q
Li
D000368:Aged; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006454:Hemoglobins; D013806:Theophylline; D010100:Oxygen