Our experience of 200 patients: usage and maintenance of long-term oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation devices at home

Objective: To evaluate the patients’ attitudes about the devices, of which they use for long-term respiratory support at home. Method: 200 consecutive patients were questioned about the treatment and devices of respiratory support at home by face to face questionnaire. Their records were taken from the archives of Social Security Agency. Results: 123 (61.5%) of the patients were men and 77 (38.5%) were women. The mean age was 65.8 ± 11.9 (15-92) years. The most frequently prescribed device was oxygen concentrator and BIPAP was the one that follows. The most common indications were hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure due to COPD. The devices were prescribed by the state university hospitals, most commonly. The average daily oxygen usage duration was 16.3 ± 3.1 hours, the average duration was 7.4 ± 3.1 hours, for BIPAP. Twenty one (11.4%) of the patients, who were treated with LTOT, stated that they were taking oxygen less than 15 hours a day. Higher education levels of the patients was correlated with the higher rates of visiting the companies - that they bought the devices- both for information about and control of the devices (p=0.002). The rate of visiting companies/firms was significantly higher in patients, who use BIPAP and respiratory support combined with it (p=0.010). Twenty three (47.9%) of the 48 patients, who notified that their devices were impaired, waited for repairment by the firm, 20 (41.6%) investigated special repair facilities and the rest (10.5%) rented a new device. Conclusion: Effective and continuous technical maintenance support must be provided to the patients, who are treated with long-term respiratory support at home.