RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT): Retrospective audit on ten years prescriptive appropriateness JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P635 VO 40 IS Suppl 56 A1 Licia Ballerin A1 Marzia Simoni A1 Lucia Ritrovato A1 Carlo Barbetta A1 Marco Piattella A1 Franco Zabini A1 Stefano Putinati A1 Alfredo Potena YR 2012 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P635.abstract AB Background: Guidelines focus on three key issues for appropriate prescription of LTOT: patients should be nonsmokers, in a stable condition, and they should use oxygen for at least 15 h/day Aim: to evaluate prescriptive appropriateness in a group of patients with Chronic Respiratory Failure during a period of ten years. Methods 702 patients (mean age 74 ± 11, 56% males) were prescribed with LTOT between 2002 and 2011. Prescriptive appropriateness based on PaO2 or non invasive SaO2, as indicated by the ERS guidelines. Results: O2 source: 84.1% liquid, 13.5% concentrator, and 2.3% gas. Main reason for prescription was pulmonary: 88.4%, 69.1% for COPD. Among patients with PaO2 and SaO2 traceable values (n=609), the prescription resulted appropriate for 240 (39.4%). Pneumologists showed higher prevalence of LTOT appropriateness than other prescriptors: difference not significant. We noted low appropriateness from 2002 to 2006, followed by a constant improvement: at that time we performed an educational program for all prescribers. On 2011 we noted a new drop in appropriateness. Conclusion: The results confirm that a considerable amount of patients are inappropriately prescribed. Efforts need to improve the adherence to the published international guidelines for LTOT prescription through continuous educational programs aimed to all prescribers.