PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gavin Donaldson
AU  - Jadwiga Wedzicha
AU  - Hamza Jamil
AU  - Kevin Holton
AU  - Sue Hill
TI  - Estimates of demand and use for home oxygen for COPD in England and Wales
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2898
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2898.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2898.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Introduction:There are an estimated 60080 patients (40% of GOLD IV) who require home oxygen in England and Wales. It is unknown whether this need is met, or whether assessment and/or review of all home oxygen users would be beneficial.Methods and Results:To estimate the prevalence of COPD among home oxygen users, a survey of 2845 patients was undertaken with patients asked about the single condition for which they were prescribed oxygen. 58% replied that they received it for COPD and 15% gave a reply of “Not Known” or “Not Stated” or ticked two conditions. Thus 68%, from 58%/(1-0.15), of all home oxygen were estimated as having COPD. This equates to 58225 patients. It suggests that either supply is matching demand, or that some COPD users may be being inappropriately prescribed home oxygen, and that there are others with an unmet need.Further data was obtained on oxygen concentrator electricity consumption and cylinder deliveries to 71078 patients (with varied diagnoses) over a 6 month period from three oxygen providers. A total of 16567 or 24% patients with a home oxygen prescription used no oxygen, 16524 used less than 20% prescribed and 5142 between 20% - 40% prescribed. In addition, 22644 patients were prescribed Short-Burst Oxygen Therapy (SBOT) without clinical trial evidence that SBOT is effective and for many patients, in addition to their oxygen concentrator.Discussion: These data suggest the importance of the changes to the home oxygen service in England and Wales and inclusion of clinical assessment and review (HOS_AR) schemes to improve the accuracy of prescription, patient adherence and by withdrawing unnecessary home oxygen, particularly SBOT, ensure that supply matches demand.