Long-term oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from an observational cohort study

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by the persistent restriction of airflow and is a consequence of chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and lung tissue in response to exposure to inhaled damaging particles or gases. The high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the high risk of mortality among patients has long been an important problem of the modern healthcare. One of the most severe complications of COPD is chronic respiratory failure. The use of oxygen in patients with chronic hypoxemia should be constant, prolonged and as usually carried out at home; therefore, this form of therapy is called long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).

Aim. To determine the effect of the use of LTOT on survival in patients with COPD and chronic respiratory failure.

Materials and methods. 324 patients were retrospectively included in the study. They were hospitalized in the period from 2011 to 2017 with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD with FEV1 31,6% predicted used LTOT. Clinical data were obtained from patient medical histories. The control group (patients with COPD who did not receive LTOT) was also compiled based on retrospective data.

Results. The 5-year survival rate of patients with COPD treated with LTOT was 54.6 (95% CI 49.3–60.4) % (a total of 324 people, 177 of them died, 138 survived, 9 people were censored), in the control group – 34.7 (95% CI 30.6–39.3) % (482 in total people, 298 of them died, 166 survived, 18 censored) (р < 0.001).

Conclusions. The use of LTOT has a significantly positive effect on the survival of patients with COPD.

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