A Randomized Trial of Long-Term Oxygen for COPD with Moderate Desaturation

In this trial, long-term supplemental oxygen treatment did not result in longer survival than no use of supplemental oxygen among patients with stable COPD and moderate resting desaturation (Spo2, 89 to 93%) or moderate exercise-induced desaturation. Two trials that were conducted in the 1970s showed that long-term treatment with supplemental oxygen reduced mortality among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and severe resting hypoxemia. 1 , 2 These results led to the recommendation that supplemental oxygen be administered to patients with an oxyhemoglobin saturation, as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo 2 ), of less than 89%. 3 , 4 In the 1990s, two trials evaluated long-term treatment with supplemental oxygen in patients with COPD who had mild-to-moderate daytime hypoxemia; neither trial showed a mortality benefit, but both were underpowered to assess mortality. 5 , 6 The effects of oxygen treatment on . . .