Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Oxygen relieves breathlessness in "pink puffers"
Woodcock AA, Gross ER, Geddes DM
Lancet 1981 Apr 25;1(8226):907-909
clinical trial
5/10 [Eligibility criteria: No; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: No; Blind subjects: Yes; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

The effect of oxygen on breathlessness and exercise tolerance was examined in "pink and puffing" patients with fixed airways obstruction. When breathing oxygen, patients were less breathless and walked further. This was true whether the cylinder was carried by the patient or by an assistant. It was not possible to identify those patients who would benefit most. The best method of assessing improvement was by comparing breathlessness on a standardised progressive exercise test on a treadmill. Four patients had a greater than 30% reduction in breathlessness on submaximum exercise when breathing oxygen. Breathing oxygen for five or fifteen minutes before exercise but not during exercise (predose) resulted in a similar improvement in exercise tolerance. For short periods of exercise predosing with oxygen provides a convenient alternative to continuous oxygen. For longer periods of exercise the benefits of portable oxygen in selected patients have been previously underestimated.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help