A study of long-term oxygen therapy in Japan and other Asian countries.

In order to investigate the use of long-term oxygen therapy in Japan, I sent questionnaires to the national chronic disease hospitals and general hospitals that are known to frequently treat respiratory diseases. I found that 61% of the chronic disease hospitals that responded had patients receiving long-term oxygen therapy in the hospital, and 12% had patients receiving it at home. Of the general hospitals answering the questionnaire, 77% had inpatients on long-term oxygen and 39% had home patients receiving oxygen therapy. The majority of patients were on oxygen for treatment of tuberculosis, its sequelae, or obstructive lung diseases. The mean PaO2 for inpatients and outpatients on oxygen was 69 mm Hg and 65 mm Hg, respectively. The cannula is the most frequently used oxygen delivery appliance. Hospital piping systems are used for inpatients, and cylinders and concentrators are used by outpatients. Health insurance covers the cost of oxygen and equipment for hospitalized patients. Home oxygen and equipment are paid for by the patient himself, or at public expense. According to the results of my questionnaire, in Hong Kong long-term oxygen is administered in the hospital only. In Korea it is administered in the hospital and on rare occasion in the home. In Taiwan oxygen is not administered on a long-term basis.