Faculty Long-term oxygen therapy is now widely accepted as the standard treatment for chronic hypoxia caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other disorders such as interstitial lung disease. Oxygen therapy has also become much more versatile in recent years, as several different types of oxygen delivery devices have become available. The diversity of these devices makes it easier for physicians to select a mode of oxygen therapy that suits the patient's lifestyle.
Many patients require long-term oxygen therapy.
The American Lung Association estimates that more than 800,000 Americans are maintained on long-term, chronic oxygen therapy. Because most patients on supplemental oxygen must receive it continuously, and in most cases for the rest of their lives, they may erroneously view oxygen therapy as a treatment of last resort. In reality, it is an important adjunct to other modes of treatment for chronic hypoxia. Liquid oxygen systems provide the greatest degree of portability and versatility, but they are the most costly option, and are not available to all patients. The American Lung Association estimates that more than 800,000 Americans are maintained on long-term, chronic oxygen therapy.