Implementing oxygen saturation-based criteria for discontinuation of long-term oxygen therapy in nursing home residents with chronic respiratory disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic respiratory diseases represent a significant global health burden, affecting millions of individuals. Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) has been a key treatment for patients with chronic hypoxemia due to these conditions, demonstrating benefits for survival and quality of life. METHODS: An observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate clinical indicators for safely discontinuing oxygen therapy in 36 patients aged 50 years or older with chronic respiratory diseases residing in five nursing homes. Data included sociodemographic and clinical variables, such as comorbidities, oxygen saturation levels, and treatment details. A cohort of 36 nursing home residents with chronic respiratory diseases was analyzed. RESULTS: The study revealed that 83.3% of patients had at least one comorbidity. Most patients (80.6%) used a nasal cannula for oxygen delivery, with a mean flow rate of 2.06 L/min. Approximately 80.6% achieved oxygen saturation >92% without supplemental oxygen. None of the patients who discontinued oxygen required readmission or oxygen reinstatement within the 4-week follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that achieving oxygen saturation >92% at rest or in exertion may represent a potential clinical indicator for safely discontinuing supplemental oxygen in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, given the retrospective design and small sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and validated in larger, prospective studies.