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Long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTOT) in Poland in the years 1986-2005
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Abstract
Material and methods: Data were taken from structurized LTOT centres reports.
Results and conclusions: A history of LTOT may be divided into 3 periods, steady grow in the years 1986-1991, stagnation between 1992-2000 and rapid grow in the last 3 years. On 01.01.2006 there was 2601 patients receiving LTOT therapy. The most common diagnosis was COPD (85%) followed by kyphoscolisis (5%), TB sequels (4.6%), IPF (3.6%) and other rare diseases. Treatment is reimbursed by the National Health System. Oxygen is administered via an oxygen concentrator. Due to insufficient resources from the NHS the needs for LTOT treatment are not fulfilled. There are 8.4 patients treated with LTOT per 100 000 people, with large regional differences ranging from 3.7 to 14.9/100 000. The most frequent cause of death in patients receiving LTOT treatment was exacerbation of respiratory failure (71.3%), followed by sudden death (5.1%), myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism (4.4%), lung cancer (4%) and other or not known causes (15.2%). Survival in patients receiving LTOT treatment from the years 1986–1995 was rather short: 54.6% survived less than 3 years, 3-4 years survived 13.3%, 4-5 years 11.3% and more than 5 years survived 19.7% of treated patients.
Abstract
Material and methods: Data were taken from structurized LTOT centres reports.
Results and conclusions: A history of LTOT may be divided into 3 periods, steady grow in the years 1986-1991, stagnation between 1992-2000 and rapid grow in the last 3 years. On 01.01.2006 there was 2601 patients receiving LTOT therapy. The most common diagnosis was COPD (85%) followed by kyphoscolisis (5%), TB sequels (4.6%), IPF (3.6%) and other rare diseases. Treatment is reimbursed by the National Health System. Oxygen is administered via an oxygen concentrator. Due to insufficient resources from the NHS the needs for LTOT treatment are not fulfilled. There are 8.4 patients treated with LTOT per 100 000 people, with large regional differences ranging from 3.7 to 14.9/100 000. The most frequent cause of death in patients receiving LTOT treatment was exacerbation of respiratory failure (71.3%), followed by sudden death (5.1%), myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism (4.4%), lung cancer (4%) and other or not known causes (15.2%). Survival in patients receiving LTOT treatment from the years 1986–1995 was rather short: 54.6% survived less than 3 years, 3-4 years survived 13.3%, 4-5 years 11.3% and more than 5 years survived 19.7% of treated patients.
Keywords
long-term oxygen therapy; Poland; 1986–2005


Title
Long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTOT) in Poland in the years 1986-2005
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
331-342
Published online
2007-10-26
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2007;75(4):331-342.
Keywords
long-term oxygen therapy
Poland
1986–2005
Authors
Wojciech Szafrański
Jan Zieliński i kierownicy ośrodków Domo Polsce