[Eight years of experience in Warsaw with domiciliary long term oxygen therapy]

Between August 1986-July 1994 45 1 patients with chronic hypoxaemia were referred to us for evaluation. 315 of them (70%) were qualified for LTOT according to national guidelines. There were 189 pts with COPD (60%), 40 with late sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), 21 with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 15 with bronchiectasis (BE), 15 with severe kyphoscoliosis (KS) and 35 with other disease leading to chronic respiratory failure. All patients received oxygen from an oxygen concentrator and have been regularly followed-up. The best survival rate in patients followed up for at least 3 years was observed in KS (68%) and COPD pts (50%). The worst survival was seen in BE (9%) and IPF (21%). 183 pts died during the follow-up and in 3 pts (1%) LTOT was withdrawn. The most frequent cause of death were either acute (58%) or chronic (21%) cardiorespiratory failure.