Preliminary study of the effect of outpatient oxygen therapy on patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency receiving home oxygen therapy

Background: Chronic respiratory insufficiency is mainly the result of ventilatory dysfunction due to various causes, which results in decreased respiratory function. The most important cause of chronic respiratory insufficiency is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which has a high incidence and places a great burden on families and society. Therefore, it is important to find an effective treatment for this disease. Methods: This study was a retrospective self-controlled study. Thirty-eight patients receiving home oxygen therapy who visited the outpatient oxygen therapy clinic from November 2020 to August 2021 were selected. After a comprehensive and systematic diagnosis and treatment, home oxygen therapy as standardized, and 38 patients were followed up for 6 months. Oxygen therapy compliance, the average daily oxygen therapy duration, arterial blood gas analysis, activities of daily living (ADL), and modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) scores before and 6 months after outpatient oxygen therapy intervention were compared. The number of hospital visits for acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory insufficiency and the medical costs incurred within 6 months before and after the outpatient oxygen therapy intervention were also compared. Results: After 6 months of outpatient oxygen therapy intervention, the compliance with oxygen therapy was significantly improved, the average daily oxygen therapy duration was significantly prolonged, the oxygen saturation (SaO2) and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) values were significantly increased, and the mMRC score was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the differences in the ADL scores were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The number of hospital visits and the medical expenses due to acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory insufficiency within 6 months after the outpatient oxygen therapy intervention were significantly lower than those in the 6 months before the intervention (P<0.05). Conclusions: As a relatively new clinical service in China, outpatient oxygen therapy can improve the efficacy of home oxygen therapy for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency through patient assessment, personalized selection of oxygen therapy equipment, and standardization of the implementation of home oxygen therapy. It provides an economically valuable treatment.