http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1604344#t=articleBackground

Although many COPD patients are prescribed supplemental oxygen during the course of their disease, no previous study has investigated whether long term treatment with supplemental oxygen improves outcomes in COPD patients. A recently published article in the NEJM reported on 738 patients with stable COPD (who suffered moderate desaturation with exercise and rest) over 1-6 years who were given long term supplemental oxygen. The results of the study showed that supplemental oxygen did not improve time to death or first hospitalization, nor did it improve any other quality of life measurements assessed by researchers. This has important implications for the health care costs associated with supplemental oxygen therapy, which exceeded $2 billion in Medicare expenses in 2011.

Group Members: Jason Phung, Charlie Pierce, Spencer Printen, Michael Reed