Getting long-term oxygen therapy right

The Lancet Global Health, vol. 13, pp. e983–e985

Abstract

[Extract] The Lancet Global Health Commission on medical oxygen security makes huge strides in advancing our understanding of this global issue. 1 However, it does not address long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) security for exertional and resting hypoxaemia. LTOT is cost-effective, improves quality of life and functional status among individuals with severe exertional hypoxaemia from chronic respiratory diseases such as interstitial lung disease, and reduces mortality in those with chronic severe resting hypoxaemia from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 2 Hence, in addition to the Commission's recommendations, we urge global health organisations, governments, health systems, clinicians, and advocacy groups to address key areas related to LTOT in future oxygen security efforts ( figure ). Key areas include development of data collection platforms, defining judicious use of existing LTOT resources, improving infrastructure to achieve equity in access, investing in new technologies, and accelerating global efforts to reduce chronic hypoxaemia burden.

Authors 6

1. Karen Czischke

   Universidad del Desarrollo · Clínica Alemana

   Affiliation as printed

   Departamento de Neumología, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile

2. Ayham Daher Aachen Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pneumology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

3. Chidiamara Maria Njoku

   James Cook University

   Affiliation as printed

   College of Health Sciences, James Cook University Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, Townsville, QLD, Australia

4. Yet Hong Khor

   The University of Melbourne

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

5. Siân Williams
   Affiliation as printed

   International Primary Care Respiratory Group, Edinburgh, UK

6. Neelima Navuluri corresponding

   Duke University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA. Electronic address: neelima.navuluri@duke.edu