Days spent in hospital and admission rates before and after starting long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in two hypoxaemic groups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, who started oxygen therapy in the outpatient clinic, depending on compliance with hours spent with oxygen
| Variable | Subjects n | Before LTOT | After LTOT | Relative change# % | p‐value |
| COT | 37 | ||||
| Days | 13.8±19.0 | 8.4±11.9 | 39.1 | 0.16 | |
| Admission | 1.2±1.0 | 1.2±1.4 | −8.3 | 0.84 | |
| Ever admitted % | 76 | 57 | 25.0 | 0.17 | |
| NCOT | 26 | ||||
| Days | 12.2±19.6 | 9.2±9.9 | 23.8 | 0.46 | |
| Admission | 1.1±1.6 | 1.1±1.1 | 0 | 1.0 | |
| Ever admitted % | 65 | 62 | 4.6 | 1.0 |
Data are presented as mean (sd) unless otherwise stated
COT: continuous oxygen therapy (15–24 h·day−1)
NCOT: noncontinuous oxygen therapy (<15 h·day−1)
#: (preoxygen period-oxygen period)/preoxygen period