PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Anne Edvardsen
AU  - Morten Ryg
AU  - Aina Akerø
AU  - Carl Christian Christensen
AU  - Ole Henning Skjønsberg
TI  - COPD and air travel: Does hypoxia-altitude simulation test predict in-flight respiratory symptoms?
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P1864
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1864.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1864.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - The reduced pressure in the aircraft cabin may cause significant hypoxaemia and respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The current study evaluated whether there is a relationship between hypoxaemia obtained during hypoxia-altitude simulation testing (HAST), simulating 2438 m altitude, and the reporting of respiratory symptoms during air travel.Eighty-two patients with moderate to very severe COPD answered an air travel questionnaire. Arterial oxygen pressures during HAST (PaO2 HAST) in subjects with and without in-flight respiratory symptoms were compared. The same questionnaire was answered within one year after the HAST.Mean PaO2 HAST was 6.3 (0.6) kPa, and 62 (76%) of the patients had PaO2 HAST <6.6 kPa. Thirty-eight patients (46%) had experienced respiratory symptoms during air travel. There was no difference in PaO2 HAST in those with and those without in-flight respiratory symptoms (6.3 (0.7) kPa vs. 6.3 (0.6) kPa, respectively, (p=0.93)). Fifty-four patients (66%) travelled by air after the HAST, and patients equipped with supplemental oxygen (n=23, 41%) reported less respiratory symptoms when flying with than without such treatment (4 (17%) vs. 11 (48%), p=0.04).In conclusion, no difference in PaO2 HAST was found between COPD patients with and without respiratory symptoms during air travel.