Automated Titration for Home Oxygen Therapy

Patients with chronic respiratory disease may be prescribed oxygen therapy. Currently, the dose of oxygen flow is fixed (FixedO2). The fixed flow is adjusted by category of activity (rest, physical activity and sleep) hereafter known as their state. The flow remains the same throughout each state and day-to-day regardless of the patient's disease status. Automated Titration of Oxygen (AutoO2) is a closed-loop system in which the oxygen flow to the patient is continuously machine adjusted to meet the patient's immediate needs on the basis of signals from pulse oximetry (SpO2). The auto-titration system used in this study is intended for home use by patients for whom home oxygen has been prescribed. It includes the central monitoring of automatic titration. Before its use at home, it must demonstrate its abilities consistently in a supervised free living environment. In this crossover trial patients already using supplemental oxygen and admitted to one of West Park Healthcare Centre's in-patient respiratory programs are exposed to alternating consecutive weeks of: 1) usual fixed dose oxygen, or; 2) automated oxygen titration. The purpose of this study is to examine if automated oxygen control based on pulse oximetry provided to participants is superior to prescribed fixed oxygen flow in keeping SpO2 within the intended target interval. To determine whether AutoO2 provides a more precise method of supplemental oxygen delivery manifested by greater amount of time within a targeted oxygen saturation (%t92-96) compared to fixed flow oxygen therapy in individuals with chronic respiratory disease. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to start with FixedO2 or AutoO2 using a computer generated block randomisation scheme. They will then alternate between conditions weekly over 4 weeks. Participants will use their usual oxygen delivery method and equipment. The AutoO2 will be inserted in-line as part of the participant's usual fixed flow system. All patient activities associated with their participation in the pulmonary rehabilitation program are unchanged. We will use continuous activity monitoring to categorize activity state i.e.rest, physical activity or sleep. Cardiac pulse from the oximeter will be used to corroborate the activity state. We will record oxygen flow from the source to the participant.

Inclusion criteria

• stable chronic respiratory disease
• current prescription for supplemental oxygen therapy

Exclusion criteria

• characteristics that compromise the validity of oximetry
• inability to communicate in English