From the Guidelines
Oxygen concentrators delivering 5 liters per minute can be indicated for COPD patients who have chronic hypoxemia, with the goal of maintaining oxygen saturation between 88-92% as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1.
Indications for Oxygen Concentrator 5 in COPD
- COPD patients with a resting oxygen saturation of 88% or less, or a PaO2 of 55 mmHg or less may benefit from oxygen therapy
- The exact flow rate should be individually titrated based on arterial blood gas measurements or pulse oximetry to avoid oxygen-induced hypercapnia
- Oxygen therapy has been shown to improve survival, exercise capacity, cognitive function, and quality of life in hypoxemic COPD patients 1
Key Considerations
- Regular follow-up is necessary to adjust oxygen settings as the disease progresses
- Patients should be educated about proper use of the concentrator and safety precautions, including avoiding smoking while using oxygen
- The target saturation range for COPD patients is 88-92% as recommended by the 2023 international consensus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care science with treatment recommendations 1
Oxygen Therapy in COPD
- Oxygen therapy should be titrated to maintain an oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry between 88% and 92% in patients with known COPD 1
- The use of oxygen concentrators delivering 5 liters per minute can be beneficial in maintaining the target saturation range in COPD patients with chronic hypoxemia
From the Research
Oxygen Concentrator 5 in COPD
- The use of oxygen concentrators in COPD patients is supported by several studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- A study published in 2019 compared supplemental oxygen delivery by continuous versus demand-based flow systems in hypoxemic COPD patients and found that oxygen supplementation via demand oxygen delivery systems (DODS) yielded comparable physiological effects during standardized walking in stable hypoxemic COPD patients like continuous flow (CF) 2
- However, 20% of the patients showed a ≥4% lower oxygen desaturation while using a DODS device, suggesting individual testing of oxygen saturation of DODS suitability 2
- Another study published in 2018 discussed the current evidence regarding long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in COPD and its impact on mortality and functional outcomes, highlighting the importance of oxygen therapy in COPD management 3
- The American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline published in 2020 provides recommendations for the use of home oxygen therapy in adults with COPD, including strong recommendations for long-term oxygen use in patients with severe chronic resting hypoxemia 4
- A study published in 2001 found that supplemental oxygen during activity in patients with advanced COPD without severe resting hypoxemia could increase the distance walked and reduce dyspnea, but these effects were not related to walking desaturation in individual cases 6
Key Findings
- Oxygen concentrators can be used in COPD patients, but individual testing of oxygen saturation is recommended 2
- Oxygen therapy is a recommended therapy option in stable hypoxemic COPD patients 2, 3, 4
- The use of oxygen concentrators in COPD patients should be based on individual patient needs and responses to oxygen therapy 2, 6