Adherence to Long-Term Oxygen Therapy. Influence of Tobacco Use

Arch Bronconeumol (Engl Ed). 2019 Jul;55(7):368-372. doi: 10.1016/j.arbres.2018.12.005. Epub 2019 Feb 1.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: Domiciliary oxygen therapy (DOT) is a treatment that requires a high level of cooperation from patients due to the time it takes every day. A high level of non-compliance has been determined among patients receiving DOT. The aim of our study was to assess the level of non-compliance and the influence of active tobacco consumption on compliance.

Material and methods: Patients were monitored in the home using direct and indirect methods, to assess both compliance and tobacco consumption.

Results: The level of non-compliance detected by indirect methods was 22.6%, and 66.3% by direct methods. Tobacco consumption determined by indirect methods was 5.8%-8%, depending on the method used, and 16.2% when CO in exhaled air ≥10ppm was established as an indicator of tobacco use. The group of smokers complied with oxygen therapy for a significantly fewer number of hours per day (P<.001) than non-smokers.

Conclusions: There is a high level of therapeutic non-compliance and a significant percentage of patients receiving DOT continue to smoke. Compliance must be monitored, and the correct use of DOT must be emphasized. Additional efforts should also be made to help smokers with DOT to stop smoking, since continued smoking impacts negatively on therapeutic non-compliance.

Keywords: Compliance; Cumplimiento; Oxigenoterapia; Oxygen therapy; Smoking; Tabaquismo.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Air Pollution, Indoor
  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Home Care Services
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy* / instrumentation
  • Patient Compliance* / statistics & numerical data
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
  • Tobacco Smoking*

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution
  • Carbon Dioxide