Effects of ambulatory oxygen on exercise capacity and vital parameters in patients with COPD

Abstract

Introduction: Ambulatory oxygen is defined as supplemental oxygen during exercise. Candidates for ambulatory oxygen are either already on long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) or show evidence of exercise desaturation.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of ambulatory oxygen on exercise capacity and vital parameters in patients with COPD who didn't fulfill the criteria for LTOT.

Method: 45 patients with moderate to very severe COPD were included in our study. Six minute walk test was performed twice, while breathing room air (without oxygen cylinder) and oxygen at 2 l/min (while carrying oxygen cylinder). Six minute walk distance (6MWD), vital parameters, borg dyspnea and fatigue scores were recorded.

Results: Oxygen resulted in a significant increase in 6MWD for all patients. The results of SaO2, borg dyspnea and fatigue scores were same as 6MWD, all parameters were significantly improved while breathing oxygen and these improvements were significantly prominent in severe and very severe groups than the moderate group.

Conclusion: Oxygen significantly improved not only subjective complaints such as dyspnea and fatigue but also objective parameters such as 6MWD and saturation. Improvement of 6MWD in severe and very severe groups were over 10% which is a critical limit used in guidelines about ambulatory oxygen prescription. Thus our findings indicate that ambulatory oxygen therapy is an effective treatment modality for severe and very severe group COPD patients.