Hypoxemia during Sleep in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Significance, Detection, and Effects of Therapy

NOD is a common event in patients with symptomatic COPD who are not hypoxemic while awake. Up to 45% of these patients may have significant oxyhemoglobin desaturation during sleep, and most have evidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Although intuitively it would seem that supplemental oxygen during sleep should be of medical benefit in COPD patients with NOD, studies to date have not substantiated this idea. Medicare requirements for prescribing nocturnal oxygen are relatively liberal and there is the possibility of misuse, which would cause a substantial increase in the cost of home health care. A well designed multicenter study is needed to provide appropriate indications and guidelines for therapy in these patients.