title: Long-Term Oxygen Therapy: Comparison of the German and British Guidelines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The German guideline on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) was published in 2008 by the German Respiratory Society (DGP), while the British Thoracic Society (BTS) published their most recent guideline in 2015.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present article was to highlight the major areas of consensus and disagreement in the recently published BTS and DGP guidelines on LTOT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BTS and DGP guidelines were directly compared in terms of congruencies and differences. A critical appraisal was then performed and authors' suggestions were provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 guidelines are almost congruent in 2 major areas, namely, (1) the indication criteria for LTOT in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at rest and (2) the recommended duration of LTOT over a 24-h period. However, 8 major areas in which the guidelines differ considerably were identified: (1) techniques for blood gas analysis; (2) timing of LTOT in stable patients; (3) LTOT in post-exacerbation COPD patients; (4) ambulatory oxygen therapy; (5) nocturnal oxygen therapy; (6) titration of oxygen flow rates; (7) follow-up visits; and (8) LTOT for patients who still smoke. Furthermore, the BTS guideline is much more detailed, includes more references (161 vs. 71) and is more up to date than the DGP guideline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are major differences between the 2 guidelines. Many of the aspects raised by the BTS guideline appear to be reasonable with regard to the current literature, clinical experience and prescription practices. However, an international consensus on LTOT is lacking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Cologne Merheim Hospital, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Faculty of Health/School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike Sophie
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Magnet
authors.forename: Sarah Bettina
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: Carl-Peter
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Criée
authors.forename: Jan Hendrik
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Storre
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Windisch
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom