Long-term oxygen therapy to reduce length of hospital stay in COVID-19

TL;DR

Long-term oxygen therapy helps reduce hospital stays for COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe symptoms and obesity.

Contribution

The study shows long-term oxygen therapy effectively reduces hospitalization time for COVID-19 patients regardless of severity.

Findings

69% of patients stopped long-term oxygen therapy within 15 days after discharge.

Obese patients with severe symptoms and longer ventilation needed continued oxygen therapy.

Faster disease progression was linked to the need for prolonged oxygen therapy.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of long-term oxygen therapy as a strategy to reduce hospitalization time in patients affected by COVID-19.

Between April and December 2021, COVID-19 patients with stable clinical conditions needing supplementary oxygen therapy during hospitalization were oriented to have hospital discharge with long-term oxygen therapy and reassessment after 15 days.

A total of 62 patients were evaluated and, 15 days after discharge, 69% of patients had suspended long-term oxygen therapy, with no difference between the groups admitted to the intensive care unit or the ward (p=0.319). Among the individuals who needed to maintain long-term oxygen therapy, in addition to worse P/F ratio (265±57 vs. 345±51; p<0.001) and lower partial pressure of oxygen (55±12 vs. 72±11 mmHg; p<0.001), were those more obese (37±8 vs. 30±6 kg/m2; p=0.032), needed more time for invasive mechanical ventilation (46±27 vs. 20±16 days; p=0.029), had greater persistence of symptoms (p<0.001), and shorter time between the onset of symptoms and the need for hospitalization (7 [2–9] vs. 10 [6–12] days; p=0.039).

Long-term oxygen therapy is an effective strategy for reducing hospitalization time in COVID-19 patients, regardless of gravity. Additionally, more obese patients with persistence of respiratory symptoms, faster disease evolution, and more days of invasive mechanical ventilation needed to maintain the long-term oxygen therapy longer.