RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 International approaches to the prescription of long-term oxygen therapy
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 909
OP 913
DO 10.1183/09031936.01.00202301
VO 18
IS 6
A1 P.J. Wijkstra
A1 G.H. Guyatt
A1 N. Ambrosino
A1 B.R. Celli
A1 R. Güell
A1 J.F. Muir
A1 C. Préfaut
A1 E.S. Mendes
A1 I. Ferreira
A1 P. Austin
A1 B. Weaver
A1 R.S. Goldstein
YR 2001
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/18/6/909.abstract
AB While there is broad agreement about who should receive long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), there is little information available on how clinicians should decide on the oxygen prescription itself, at rest, during sleep and during exercise. The authors describe the results of an international survey that was undertaken to compare how respirologists prescribed oxygen. A questionnaire was sent to 100 respirologists in each of seven countries. The questionnaire identified whether resting flow rates were derived in a standard manner or by individualized patient testing. Test targets were ascertained for rest, exercise and sleep, as was the percentage of time that each test target had to reach for the test to be accepted. The majority of respondents individualized the oxygen prescription at rest (81%). Resting arterial oxygen saturation (Sa,O2) was most commonly targeted at 90–91%. The approach to night prescription varied (p<0.001). Respirologists in Canada and the USA increased the resting Sa,O2 by 1–2 L·min−1 during sleep, while those in Spain used the resting (awake) flow for the night prescription (62%). Respirologists in the Netherlands, France, and Italy individualized the night prescription more frequently. Although oxygen during exercise was individualized in most countries (74%), significant differences remained among countries (p<0.001). The majority of respirologists (62%) aimed to achieve an Sa,O2 of 90–91% during exercise, while 70% of all respirologists tried to achieve the desired Sa,O2 for 90% of the test. There were substantial differences among countries as to how the oxygen prescription was written. This survey highlights the need for multicentre studies that improve the effectiveness of long-term oxygen therapy utilization.