Ambulatory oxygen for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Ram FSF, Wedzicha JA

Published Online:

October 7, 2009

Supplementary (portable or ambulatory) oxygen therapy (in addition to fixed or domiciliary oxygen therapy) is a necessity for active patients who leave their homes and for daily activities. Although ambulatory oxygen therapy is prescribed for such patients little is known about the effectiveness of long-term ambulatory oxygen therapy in such situations. A review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of long-term ambulatory oxygen therapy. Only two trials were found with one of the trials reporting significant improvements in ventilation and arterial oxygen saturation. From the evidence to date, it is not possible to determine whether patients on long-term oxygen therapy should be provided with ambulatory oxygen during exercise and for activities of daily living. Further studies are required in order to understand the role of ambulatory oxygen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Little is known about the effectiveness of ambulatory domicilary oxygen therapy. At present ambulatory oxygen in the UK is provided with small oxygen cylinders but in other countries such as the USA and Italy, liquid oxygen systems with higher oxygen carrying capacity are widely used. Both these systems are used without adequate evidence of their effectiveness.

Objectives:

To determine the effectiveness of long-term ambulatory domicilary oxygen therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Search strategy:

The Cochrane Airways Group specialised trials register was searched. In addition, bibliographies of each trial retrieved were also searched for additional papers that may contain further studies. Authors of identified trials were contacted for other published and unpublished studies. Searches were current as of August 2004.

Selection criteria:

Only randomised controlled trials in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were considered for inclusion. Trials must have randomised patients into long-term ambulatory oxygen therapy or placebo while at home. Ambulatory oxygen can be provided either through portable oxygen cylinders or with liquid oxygen canisters and the placebo group using compressed or liquid air.

Data collection and analysis:

Two reviewers assessed all potential trials independently. Data abstraction was completed by one reviewer and re-checked by the second reviewer.

Main results:

Only two studies met the inclusion criteria. These provided data on 70 patients. Statistically significant effects of oxygen were found in only one of the studies, a crossover trial involving 9 patients with severe hypoxia at rest. This study reported a reduction in minute ventilation at maximal exercise (WMD -11.00 L/min; 95%CI -17.53 , -4.47L/min) and an increase in PaO2 at rest (WMD 17.00 mmHg; 95%CI 9.13,24.87 L/min) with oxygen therapy when compared to placebo. The other study recruited patients who did not have resting hypoxaemia. An update search conducted in August 2004 did not identify any new studies for inclusion in the review.

Authors' conclusions:

Evidence available to date does not allow any firm conclusions to be drawn concerning the effectiveness of ambulatory domicilary oxygen therapy in patients with COPD. Further studies are required in order to understand the role of ambulatory oxygen in the management of patients with COPD on long-term oxygen therapy. These studies should separate patients who desaturate from those who do not desaturate.

This record should be cited as:

Ram FSF, Wedzicha JA. Ambulatory oxygen for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2002, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD000238. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000238

Assessed as up to date:

August 5, 2004

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Primary Review Group:

Airways Group

Health topics:

Lungs & airways > Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (stable) > Ventilation & oxygen

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Ambulatory oxygen for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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