To the Editors:
Oxygen therapy is given to patients with hypoxaemia caused by diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease and cystic fibrosis [1]. In cases of natural disasters, patients receiving oxygen therapy in their homes can lose their stable oxygen supply for long periods of time due to power failure or equipment damage. Little has been established for the management of these patients during disasters. On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck large parts of the east coast of Japan. Over 20,000 people died or were listed as missing following this disaster [2]. Here, we discuss the problems, based on our experience, in the management of patients receiving home oxygen therapy during disasters.
Avoiding treatment interruption during a disaster is essential in maintaining disease stabilisation for patients receiving oxygen therapy. In Japan, home oxygen therapy is widely used for patients with chronic respiratory failure and covered by the national healthcare insurance system …
