Characteristics of patients who progress from bridging to long-term oxygen therapy

Patients with persistent hypoxia following an acute hospital admission may be discharged with 'bridging' domiciliary oxygen as per criteria defined by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. The need for continuous long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is then reassessed at a clinic review 1-2 months later.

To describe the characteristics of patients discharged from an acute hospital admission with continuous short-term oxygen therapy (STOT), and subsequently to investigate for differences between subjects who proceeded to qualify for continuous LTOT versus those who were able to cease STOT at review.

This is a retrospective cohort study involving all subjects discharged from Alfred Health between 2011 and 2015 inclusive with bridging domiciliary oxygen. Multiple biochemical, physiological and demographic characteristics were collated and analysed.

Of all patients prescribed continuous STOT at time of discharge, 47.3% qualified for LTOT at outpatient review. This cohort had a significantly lower PaO₂ measurement at time of discharge, compared with those who no longer qualified.

PaO₂ at time of discharge provides a signal with the potential to identify who will require continuous LTOT following an acute hospital admission. Additionally, this study highlights the need to re-evaluate patients' oxygen requirements during a period of clinical stability.