[Effect of home oxygen therapy on patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases]

Effects of 4 year of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in 130 COPD patients were evaluated. All suffered from severe airways obstruction (FEV1 = 0.84 l), hypoxaemia (PaO2 = 55 mm Hg) and pulmonary hypertension (PAP = 29 mm Hg). The mean oxygen breathing hours averaged 15.2 h/day. Forty seven patients (36%) died during the observation period. LTOT did not prevent the progress of respiratory insufficiency-fall inc C and FEV. However it stabilized pulmonary arterial pressure and haematocrit. It was found that FEV1 < 0.76 l, PaO2 < 52 mm Hg, PAP > 30 mm Hg and oxygen breathing hours < 12/day bear risk of early death despite LTOT. The variables correlated best with survival were FEV1 and PaO2.