The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among male US veterans is higher than in the general population.1 Veterans with COPD have higher rates of comorbidities and increased respiratory-related and all-cause health care use, including the use of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).2-5 It has been well established that LTOT reduces all-cause mortality in patients with COPD and resting hypoxemic chronic respiratory failure (CRF) when used for ≥ 15 hours per day.6-8
Delivery of domiciliary LTOT entails placing a nasal cannula into both nostrils and loosely securing it around both ears throughout the wake-sleep cycle. Several veterans with hypoxemic CRF due to COPD at the Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JBVAMC) in Chicago, Illinois, who were receiving LTOT reported nasal cannula dislodgement (NCD) while they slept. However, the clinical significance and impact of these repeated episodes on respiratory-related health care utilization, such as frequent COPD exacerbations with hospitalization, were not recognized. Moreover, we found no published reports or clinical practice guidelines alluding to similar events reported by patients with hypoxemic CRF due to COPD receiving LTOT either at home or in an acute care setting.8,9 Nonetheless, frequent COPD exacerbations are associated with increased hospital admissions and account for a large portion of health care costs attributed to COPD.10-13
The purpose of this study was to determine whether veterans with hypoxemic CRF due to COPD and receiving 24-hour LTOT at JBVAMC were experiencing NCD during sleep and, if so, its impact on their hospitalizations for COPD exacerbations.
METHODS
We reviewed electronic health records (EHRs) of veterans with hypoxemic CRF from COPD who received 24-hour LTOT administered through nasal cannula and were followed in the JBVAMC pulmonary outpatient clinic between February 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. In each case, LTOT was prescribed by a board-certified pulmonologist based on Veterans Health Administration clinical practice guidelines.14 A licensed durable medical equipment company contracted by the JBVAMC delivered and established home oxygen equipment at each veteran’s residence.
Pertinent patient demographics, clinical and physiologic variables, and hospitalizations with length of JBVAMC stay for each physician-diagnosed COPD exacerbation in the preceding year from the date last seen in the clinic were abstracted from EHRs. Overall hospital cost, defined as a veteran overnight stay in either the medical intensive care unit (MICU) or a general acute medicine bed in a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility, was calculated for each hospitalization for physician-diagnosed COPD exacerbation using VA Managerial Cost Accounting System National Cost Extracts for inpatient encounters.15 We then contacted each veteran by telephone and asked whether they had experienced NCD and, if so, its weekly frequency ranging from once to nightly.
Data Analysis
Data were reported as mean (SD) where appropriate. The t test and Fisher exact test were used as indicated. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. The study protocol was determined to be exempt by the JBVAMC Institutional Review Board (Protocol #1725748).