Slow recruitment

O2matic HOT is a further development of O2matic and is intended for home oxygen use with patients in need of long-term oxygen treatment (LTOT). O2matic HOT is a closed-loop system which on basis of signals from pulse oximetry titrates the oxygen flow to the patient. In this crossover trial patients are admitted for 24 hours twice. Once with usual fixed dose oxygen and once with oxygen titration by O2matic HOT.

The purpose of this study is to examine if automated oxygen control based on pulse oximetry to patients with domiciliary long-term oxygen treatment (LTOT) is better than manually controlled oxygen treatment in keeping SpO2 within intended target interval. In manually controlled oxygen treatment flow is usually kept constant for months between visits from specialist nurse, whereas in automated control the patient can titrate oxygen flow several times a day based on pulse oximetry in a closed-loop system.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Verified COPD with FEV1/FVC < 0.70
• Need of LTOT (PaO2 <= 7.3 kPa or SpO2 < 88 % on ambient air)
• Cognitively able to participate
• Willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Moderate or severe exacerbation in COPD within 4 weeks from study start
• Major comorbidities (cancer, uncontrolled chronic disease)
• Asthma or other disease with need of higher SpO2
• Pregnancy
• Fall in pH below 7.35 or increase in PaCO2 > 1 kPa on 5 liters of oxygen
• Active smoking
• LTOT use less than 1 hours/day