Objective: To evaluate long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTOT) in our setting and the utility of pulse oxymetry for follow-up control.
Patients and method: 140 patients were studied. The data on the indication for LTOT and the degree of therapeutic compliance were obtained by means of a clinical interview; spirometry, full blood count, arterial blood gas measurement, and pulse oxymetry were also carried out.
Results: 12 (8.6%) patients who fulfilled criteria for provisional oxygen therapy were excluded and 22 (15.7%) due to recent exacerbations. Of the remaining 106 individuals, 67 (63%) were men and 39 (37%) women, and the mean age was 73 +/- 12 years. 54% (57/106) of the patients used the oxygen therapy for at least 15 hours/day. Only 36 (34%) patients fulfilled the indication criteria for LTOT and only 24 (23%) both fulfilled the indication criteria and demonstrated appropriate administration of the LTOT. The oxygen saturation measured by pulse oxymetry (SpO2) showed a good correlation with the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) obtained by arterial blood gas measurement (r=0.857 and K=0.937).
Conclusions: In our setting, the follow-up control of LTOT and therapeutic compliance were not optimal. The SpO2 shows a good correlation with the PaO2 and represents a good alternative for the follow-up control of LTOT.