Sociodemographic and clinical characterization of patients users of prolonged domestic oxygen therapy

Introduction: Prolonged Homeopathic Oxygenation improves quality and prolongs the life expectancy of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD)with chronic hypoxemia. The most common symptom is cough, associated or not with another respiratory change for a few weeks. Taking into account the European statistics that indicate an approximate prevalence of 40 patients/100,000 inhabitants as Chronic O2 users, it can be assumed that in Brazil we would have approximately 65,000 patients in this condition. Objectives: To know the profile and clinical characteristics of patients with ODP. Method: A quantitative, observational, transversal and analytical approach. Patients taking ODP with a diagnosis of COPD undergoing follow-up at the Prolonged Homeopathic Oxygen Outpatient Clinic in the period from July to October, 2017, were in the municipality of Botucatu. Results: There were 57 patients, mean age of 73(SD)years, most of them female. With regard to schooling, the vast majority had incomplete elementary education (61.4%). None of the patients smoked, of whom 79% were former smokers and 21% were non-smokers. The former smokers smoked on average 41 years(± 14.4). It should be noted that. 52.6% of patients did not make the correct use of therapy. The symptoms presented were: cough(33.3%), sputum (7%)and wheezing (5.3%)The majority (%) did not need hospitalization and had no exacerbation in the last 12 months;73.7% patients received the Influenza vaccine and 53% received the Pneumococcal vaccine in the last 5 years. Conclusion: The mean age of patients was high, low schooling, and no correct use of therapy. It requires continued education to improve care delivery and adherence to treatment.