Although home oxygen therapy in hypoxemic patients with chronic lung disease has been increasing over the decade in Korea, the present state has not been known well. This study was done to know the situation of home oxygen therapy in a Korean university hospital.

Between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2003, 86 patients prescribed home oxygen therapy by the pulmonary physicians of Asan Medical Center were investigated using their medical record and questionnaire.

Patients (52 men, mean age of 61 years) with home oxygen therapy were increasing by every year. Underlying diseases were COPD (n=29), tuberculous destroyed lung (n=18), bronchiectasis (n=15), ILD (n=12), and others. Baseline FEV₁/FVC, FVC, and FEV₁ of patients were 58.4±25.2%, 54.5±17.1% of predicted, and 41.7±20.6% of pred. Mean oxygen flow was 1.5 L/min and mean duration per day was 14.5 hours. During therapy, mean PaO₂ values have increased from 51.2 to 77.7 mm Hg and PaCO₂ values have increased from 47.5 to 49.6 mm Hg. Only 16.5% of the subjects were monitored by visiting nurses or pulse oximeter. Three year survival rate was 56.6% and hypercapnic patients showed better prognosis.

The patients with home oxygen therapy were increasing yearly and a part of them were monitored. The hypercapnea respiratory failure patients would have better prognosis.