Abstract
Introduction: Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) was shown to improve survival in patients with COPD and chronic hypoxemia, while the data for other indications is limited. However, it is commonly prescribed for advanced pulmonary and non-pulmonary diseases.
Aim: To evaluate indications of LTOT and identify prognostic factors of patients requiring LTOT upon hospital discharge.
Methods: Patients with first LTOT prescriptions from 2014 to 2018 were included. Study data was acquired from hospital database and national healthcare registry. The analysis included blood biomarkers, lung function, and performance status before LTOT. Data was analysed using multivariate Cox regression model.
Results: 201 patients with LTOT were included (122 females, median age 80 years (IQR 25 - 75%, 71 - 86 years). Indications for LTOT were COPD (36.6%), pulmonary fibrosis (9.9%), pulmonary hypertension (9.3%), heart failure (19.9%), malignancy (6.2%), fibrothorax (3.1%) and other less frequent indications (14.8%). 43.8% of patients never smoked, while 56.2% were current or ex-smokers. WHO status prior to LTOT was estimated as 1 for 20.3%, 2 for 30.1%, 3 for 28.6%, 4 for 21.1% of patients. Mean paO2 and paCO2 before LTOT were 6.72 kPa (SD 1.03) and 6.41 kPa (SD 1.49), respectively. One-year survival was 48.8%, two-year 36.8%, five-year 19.9%. In a multivariate analysis, statistically significant predictors for survival were worse WHO status (HR 1.416 [1.178 - 1.702], p<0.001) and smoking history (HR 0.609 [0.405 - 0.916], p=0.017).
Conclusions: Regardless of the indication for LTOT, the survival of patients was poor. The study identified worse WHO status and the absence of smoking history as negative prognostic factors of survival.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3133.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021