Home treatment for chronic respiratory insufficiency: the situation in Europe in 1992. The European Working Group on Home Treatment for Chronic Respiratory Insufficiency.

The search for improved quality of life and a reduction in health care costs is leading to the development of home treatment. The organization of home treatment for chronic respiratory patients in 13 European countries was evaluated at the end of 1992 by means of a questionnaire. Switzerland and the Association Nationale pour le Traitement A Domicile de l'Insuffisance Respiratoire Chronique (ANTADIR) in France maintain registers for patients on oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation and sleep disorders. Sweden and Poland have a national register for patients receiving oxygen. In other countries, some information can be obtained from the National Health Service or the commercial provider. Oxygen concentrators are used preferentially in all countries except Italy, Denmark, Spain and The Netherlands. Home ventilator treatment is generally performed by volume-cycled ventilators. National prescription rules exist in some parts of Spain, Switzerland and Belgium. In other countries, such as Germany, prescriptions rely on recommendations elaborated by specialists or international guidelines. Service and equipment are provided by national organizations, health services, commercial companies or hospitals. Home supervision of the patient is performed by a nurse and/or a doctor and equipment maintenance by a technician. Important differences exist between countries in Europe in home treatment of chronic respiratory disease. Comparative analysis should help achieve uniform standards and provide a basis for future research.