Improving home oxygen therapy in patients with interstitial lung diseases: application of a noninvasive ventilation device

摘要

Proper adjustment of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) during daily activities in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) requiring long-term oxygen therapy is challenging. Given the multifactorial nature of the limited exercise tolerance in patients with ILDs, the isolated use of oxygen therapy may not be enough. As demonstrated previously in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the use of a noninvasive ventilation (NIV) device combined with oxygen therapy may prevent the falling of oxygen saturation during exercise, due to an improvement of the ventilation–perfusion ratio and a reduction of the respiratory work, thus enhancing exercise tolerance. We sought to assess in patients diagnosed with ILD who are in need of oxygen therapy, the effect of associating an NIV to improve oxygen parameters and the distance covered during the 6 min walking test (6MWT).