Oxygen Therapy in Advanced COPD: In Whom Does it Work?

Barry Make; Samuel Krachman; Ralph J Panos; Dennis E Doherty; James K Stoller

doi:10.1055/s-0030-1254073

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2010; 31(3): 334-342
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1254073

Oxygen Therapy in Advanced COPD: In Whom Does it Work?

Barry Make¹ ^, ² , Samuel Krachman³ , Ralph J. Panos⁴ , Dennis E. Doherty⁵ ^, ⁶ , James K. Stoller⁷ ^, ⁸

¹Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado, Denver Colorado
²COPD Program, National Jewish Health, Denver Colorado
³Sleep Disorders Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
⁴Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Division, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
⁵Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
⁶Veterans Administration Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky
⁷Department of Medicine, The Respiratory Institute, Cleveland, Ohio
⁸Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Supplemental oxygen therapy is commonly used in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe hypoxemia at rest. Use of oxygen in these patients is justified by studies showing a mortality benefit.

However, the use of oxygen in other patients with advanced COPD has not clearly been established. Long-term studies assessing not only mortality but also other outcomes that are important to patients and physicians such as dyspnea, health status, and exercise capacity are lacking. This article reviews the available studies of the use of supplemental oxygen in patients with less severe hypoxemia at rest during the day, hypoxemia occurring only at night, and hypoxemia occurring only with exercise. With the knowledge that studies in patients with advanced COPD and less severe hypoxemia are limited, recommendations are provided on oxygen use in these groups of patients.

KEYWORDS

Oxygen therapy - mortality - COPD - dyspnea - health-related quality of life

Full Text

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Barry MakeM.D.

National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson St.

K729, Denver, CO 80206

Email: makeb@njhealth.org