Abstract
Long-term oxygen therapy is initiated in England and Wales by the patient's family doctor, sometimes at the request of a hospital consultant. Guidelines for therapy exist but are not mandatory. We wish to investigate the numbers and types of patients being treated under this regimen, the method of treatment and how they responded to their oxygen dose. We therefore interviewed and tested patients at the inception of therapy in six of the nine prescribing areas of the whole country, during August 1990 and February 1991. Main outcome measures were diagnoses, daily duration and flow prescribed, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) breathing air and improvement in arterial oxygen saturation on prescribed oxygen. Most patients both in summer and winter reported diagnoses of chronic bronchitis (45%) or emphysema (50%), in addition to other conditions. Most were male (58%), and most (72%) were over retirement age. Roughly half (45%) were house-bound, but only 28 (6%) were totally bedridden. Three quarters (77%) reported that a hospital consultant had told them how much oxygen to use, and in all diagnostic groups mean prescriptions exceeded 15 h.day-1 and 2 l.min-1. However, only half (54%) of the patients with complete measurements had basal arterial oxygen saturation of 90% or less at the start of treatment, together with a satisfactory improvement in arterial oxygen saturation on the prescribed flow of oxygen. In conclusion, patients are usually prescribed adequate regimens but little attempt is made to ensure that prescription is appropriate or response satisfactory. Resources continue to be used for treating patients without ensuring that they benefit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
