Oxigenoterapia domiciliaria a largo plazo, necesidad apremiante en enfermos con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica

Abstract

Chronic respiratory insufficiency and COPD patients are important public health problems. It has been shown that long-term oxygentherapy improve both survival and quality of life in these patients. On these basis, our institution (Instituto Nacional del Tórax) organized by 1984 a domiciliary oxygentherapy program. The work of a professional team and an operatively efficient structure supported the program. From 1984 to december 2001, 560 patients had been admitted to the program. Presently the program has 112 patients, 67.9% of them are COPD patients; hypercapnic respiratory insufficiency is present in 72% of the 112 patients. In a 118 patients cohort of this program, after one year of oxygen therapy no differences were found in spirometric and arterial blood gases values as compared to their initial control. A decrease in the number of hospital admissions and in the number of hospitalization days was observed in the patients admitted to the program. A decrease of depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as in psyco-organic deterioration, was shown in a quality of life assessment, carried out in the first 50 patients admitted to the program. The patients waiting list is the main program's problem, because of the high number of patients requesting oxygen therapy and the limitation in financial resources. Domiciliary oxygen therapy is an effective treatment that improves patients survival, as well as their quality of life. It is a service absolutely essential for chronic respiratory disease. The magnitude of the problem would request the organization of a Domiciliary Oxygentherapy National Program