Study of Oxygen Supplement Effects on Walking and Symptoms in Adults with Chronic Respiratory Failure or Exertional Low Oxygen

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how adding a therapeutic dose of oxygen during exercise affects people with chronic respiratory failure or exertional hypoxemia due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD or interstitial lung disease. This multicenter crossover trial aims to evaluate exercise performance, gas exchange, heart rate, symptom perception, and ease of performing exercise in patients hospitalized in pulmonary rehabilitation centers. The study will compare walking ability during two conditions using the 6-minute walk test to understand the benefits of different oxygen levels during exertion. Participants will perform two 6-minute walk tests in random order within 24 hours. One test uses their usual oxygen flow prescribed at rest or room air for those with exertional hypoxemia, while the other uses double the prescribed oxygen flow or 2 liters per minute for patients with exertional hypoxemia. Oxygen is delivered through nasal cannulas with a stroller carrying the oxygen supply. Tests are separated by at least 3 hours. The study groups include patients with COPD with exertional hypoxemia, COPD with chronic respiratory failure on long-term oxygen therapy, and interstitial lung disease with chronic respiratory failure on long-term oxygen therapy. Participants will be assessed for walking distance, oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms such as breathlessness and fatigue before, during, and after the tests. A questionnaire will capture how easy participants found the test. Researchers will analyze the difference in walking distance between conditions as the primary outcome. The study will also examine how clinical and anthropometric factors influence responses to oxygen therapy. The total planned enrollment is 114 patients, and the trial will provide insights for better oxygen therapy prescriptions during exercise.

Effects of Oxygen Supplementation During the 6-Minute Walk Test in Chronic Respiratory Failure or Exertional Hypoxemia