PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jennie Turnbull
AU  - Lynn McDonnell
AU  - Leyla Osman
AU  - Julia Bott
AU  - Toby Prevost
AU  - Craig Davidson
TI  - Physical exercise and ambulatory oxygen device preference in patients' with exertional hypoxaemia; a multicentre RCT
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3722
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3722.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P3722.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - The benefit of ambulatory oxygen (AO) in patients with hypoxaemia on exercise remains contentious. HomefillTM (HF) allows patients to self fill small AO cylinders via a compressor.ObjectiveA randomised cross-over trial to assess patient activity and preference for HF compared with usual AO device in a cohort of patients’ with mixed respiratory diseases.MethodsMedically stable individuals were recruited from three respiratory/AO clinics. Patients were randomised to usual AO then HF for 6 wks or vice versa. AO prescription was pre-optimised. Tri-axial activity monitoring and questionnaires were completed in the last week of each arm.ResultsForty patients met the inclusion criteria, 6 changed their minds and 3 became unwell. Mean age was 66 yrs, 11 males, 72% had COPD, mean FEV1 0.70 l/min (range 0.38-1.15, SD 0.21) and restrictive FVC 1.35 l/min (range 0.46 – 2.58, SD 0.73). Fourteen patients required the highest pulsed oxygen setting for HF. There was no statistically significant difference in mean daily activity counts when using HF compared to usual AO. LTOT users were less active (activity counts: 22944 HF, 22624 Usual) than non LTOT users (38278 HF, 39420 Usual). Eighteen patients elected to keep HomefillTM, 10 were LTOT users, 14 had COPD, 7 previously used cylinders and 11 LOX or light-weight cylinders.ConclusionsAs expected, LTOT users were less active than non LTOT users; a small number were very inactive. Activity levels were unaffected by AO system, HF was preferred by the majority.Implications for practice:AO prescription should be considered before severe deconditioning.AO systems could be trialled during PR to optimise utilisation.