Long-Term Oxygen Therapy: Conference Summary

With Jan's presentation, the conference concluded. In looking back on it, I think it is obvious that the group heard a very comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of this very important topic. Obviously, LTOT has enormous clin-ical and financial impact for millions of patients around the world. Indeed, LTOT is one of the few therapies avail-able that has clearly been shown in randomized controlled trials to impact mortality. There are many questions that remain, however. To me, the most important of these ques-tions involve the diagnosis and management of patients who do not have resting hypoxemia but who do have NOD and/or XOD. How aggressively should we "screen" for these conditions? If we find them, do we treat continu-ously or just during the hypoxemic episodes? What is the role of supplemental oxygen during rehabilitative exer-cises (including usage in patients who don't become hy-poxemic)? The answers to these questions will clearly have substantial clinical and financial impact.