Clinical Review
Integrating Palliative Care in COPD Treatment
After receiving palliative care, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed a decrease in the average number of emergency...
Studies conducted in the 1970s found that patients with severely low blood oxygen levels (SpO 2 ≤ 88% at rest) benefit from long-term oxygen treatment. But in nearly 50 years it hasn’t been established whether the same benefits accrue to patients with moderately low levels (SpO 2 89 – 93% at rest or < 90% during a 6-minute walk test).
Related: Integrating Palliative Care in COPD Treatment
In the 7-year multicenter Long-Term Oxygen Treatment Trial (LOTT), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute researchers evaluated the use of oxygen in 738 patients with COPD and moderately low levels of blood oxygen. Half received long-term oxygen, the other half did not.
The researchers found no significant differences between the 2 groups in survival or time to first hospitalization. The groups also had similar rates of hospitalization and worsening COPD symptoms. Quality of life issues, such as levels of depression or anxiety, lung function, or ability to walk short distances, were also similar.
Related: Implications of the GOLD COPD Classification and Guidelines
“These results provide insight into a long-standing question about oxygen use in [these patients],” says James Kiley, PhD, director of NHLBI’s Division of Lung Diseases. “The findings also underscore the need for new treatments for COPD.”