Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Long-term oxygen therapy stops the natural decline of endurance in COPD patients with reversible hypercapnia.
Respiratory muscle weakness is one of the most important causes of hypercapnia in patients with COPD. There is evidence that stable hypercapnic patients will benefit from long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). ⋯ COPD patients with reversible hypercapnia and mild hypoxaemia benefit from LTOT in terms of endurance time and a reduction of exertional dyspnoea after 1 year.