| Two recent large scale studies of the effects of | | | | M.P.H.) |
| long-term home oxygen therapy have been | | | | About 12 million adults in the United States have |
| launched during the past year by the National | | | | been diagnosed with COPD, while another 12 |
| Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NFLBI) and the | | | | million are believed to be undiagnosed. |
| non-profit research organization the Rand | | | | Approximately 1 million COPD patients in the |
| Corporation. Although oxygen therapy has been | | | | United States are currenty receiving oxygen |
| available for decades, it's benefits are becoming | | | | therapy. Studies show that Americans with |
| more widely understood. Chronic Obstructive | | | | chronic obstructive lung disease received only |
| Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the 4th leading | | | | 55% of recommended care. Many individuals who |
| cause of death in the United States. | | | | have COPD don't even kmow they have it. They |
| Late last year, the NHLBI unveiled the largest | | | | brush off the primary symptom, shortness of |
| randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness and | | | | breath, as a sign of aging or being out of shape. |
| safety of long-term home oxygen therapy for | | | | The Rand study estimated that 27,000 to 54,000 |
| COPD patients. The $28 million, 6-year project will | | | | annual deaths in the United States from COPD |
| study patients with moderate lung disease. The | | | | may have been reduced by appropriate oxygen |
| study will involve approximately 3,500 patients | | | | use. According to Dr. Robert A. Wise of Johns |
| across the United States with moderate COPD to | | | | Hopkins University: "We may not be able to get |
| determine whether home oxygen therapy will help | | | | them to 100 percent, but we can almost always |
| patients live longer and more active lives. Contract | | | | get them to be a lot more self-sufficient, and |
| awards were given to 14 field sites to conduct | | | | that's what a lot of patients with COPD are |
| the study. | | | | concerned about. It's not just shortness of |
| The 14 field study sites awarded contracts are: | | | | breath; it's the loss of independence." |
| * Brigham & Women’s Hospital (John Reilly, | | | | The Rand study also determinedthat only 32% of |
| M.D.) | | | | COPD patients with baseline hypoxia received |
| * Cleveland Clinic Foundation (James Stoller, M.D., | | | | home oxygen therapy for routine management. |
| M.S.) | | | | James Kiley, PhD., Director of the NHLBI, remarks: |
| * Denver Health Medical Center (Rick Albert, M.D.) | | | | "As the population ages, the number of individuals |
| * Duke University (Neil MacIntyre, M.D.) | | | | affected by COPD is on the rise. It is more |
| * Kaiser Permanente Northwest (Thomas Stibolt, | | | | imperative than ever that we find treatments |
| M.D.) | | | | that will improve the health and function of |
| * Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute | | | | patients with chronic lung diseases such as COPD." |
| (Richard Casaburi, M.D.) | | | | One of the most popular methods of receiving |
| * Ohio State University (Philip Diaz, M.D.) | | | | home oxygen therapy is the oxygen |
| * Temple University (Gerard Criner, M.D.) | | | | concentrator. Oxygen concentrators simply plug |
| * University of Alabama at Birmingham (J. Allen | | | | into a standard electrical outlet, eliminating the |
| Cooper, Jr., M.D.) | | | | need for oxygen tanks and deliveries. Portable |
| * University of Michigan (Fernando J. Martinez, | | | | oxygen concentrators offer even greater |
| M.D., M.S.) | | | | mobility; some models can be plugged into your |
| * University of Pittsburgh (Frank Sciurba, M.D.) | | | | car's accessory outlet or can be used with |
| * University of Utah (Richard Kanner, M.D.) | | | | re-chargeable batteries. The Inogen One is a |
| * University of Washington (David Au, M.D., M.S.) | | | | portable oxygen concentrator with these |
| * Washington University (Roger Yusen, M.D., | | | | advanced features. |