LTOT prolongs life in patients with chronic hypoxaemia, while breathing oxygen during exercise increases walking distance and reduces dyspnoea. The evidence that short burst oxygen therapy is useful remains weak despite its widespread use.
Whatever form of oxygen therapy is used, it should be acceptable to patients and, therefore, patient education is important. All patients should have their treatment optimised, and the physician should be clear about what form of oxygen therapy is indicated and how its effectiveness is to be assessed.