We welcome the incisive comments from Cahill Lambert (page 472).1 The remit of our position statement2 was to update our previous evidence-based guidelines for the prescription of oxygen in Australia and New Zealand by reviewing the currently available literature. Informal consultation with consumers was made through the Australian Lung Foundation’s COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Consultative Group, but no funding was available to seek broader community comment. Our position statement supports the use of ambulatory oxygen as part of continuous oxygen therapy in patients who fulfil criteria for long-term oxygen therapy — both to maximise the duration of normal blood oxygen concentrations and to maximise exercise capacity.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Cahill Lambert AE. Adult domiciliary oxygen therapy: a patient’s perspective. Med J Aust 2005; 183: 472-473.
- 2. McDonald CF, Crockett AJ, Young IH. Adult domiciliary oxygen therapy. Position statement of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand. Med J Aust 2005; 182: 621-626. <MJA full text>
- 3. Crockett AJ, Cranston JM, Moss JR, Alpers JH. The MOS SF-36 health survey questionnaire in severe chronic airflow limitation: comparison with the Nottingham Health Profile. Qual Life Res 1996; 5: 330-338.
- 4. Crockett AJ, Cranston JM, Moss JR, Alpers JH. Initial trends in quality of life and survival in CAL patients on domiciliary oxygen therapy. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 1996; 51: 64-71.
- 5. Crockett AJ, Cranston JM, Moss JR, Alpers JH. A review of long-term oxygen therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Med 2001; 95: 437-443.
- 6. Crockett AJ, Cranston JM, Moss JR, Alpers JH. The impact of anxiety, depression and living alone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Qual Life Res 2002; 11: 309-316.
- 7. McDonald CF, Blyth CM, Lazarus MD, et al. Exertional oxygen is of limited benefit in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mild hypoxemia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1995; 152: 1616-1619.
- 8. Eaton T, Garrett JE, Young P, et al. Ambulatory oxygen improves quality of life of COPD patients: a randomised controlled study. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 306-312.
None identified.