Portable Oxygen Concentrator to Improve Quality of Life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Portable Oxygen Concentrator to Improve Quality of Life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
-  Evaluate subjects in an prospective observational study

 -  Subjects will be administered scientifically validated questionnaires

 -  Determine the affect of the Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) on improvements in:

 1. Exercise capability, dyspnea and quality of life as primary endpoints

 2. Utilize:

 1. Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI)

 2. Transitional Dyspnea Index (TDI)

 3. Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ)

 4. Six minute walk test (6MWT)

 5. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

 -  The secondary endpoints will be:

 1. Rate of exacerbations, sleep quality

 2. Health care utilization (emergency room encounters, hospital admissions)
Evaluate subjects in an prospective observational study in which subjects will be screened
 and administered scientifically validated questionnaires at study entry and during the
 observation period at specified intervals to determine the affect of the Portable Oxygen
 Concentrator on improvements in exercise capability, dyspnea and quality of life as primary
 endpoints, utilizing the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI), Transitional Dyspnea Index (TDI), the
 Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) and six minute walk test (6MWT). The
 secondary endpoints will be rate of exacerbations, sleep quality (reported as number of hours
 sleep improvement; utilize Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), and health care utilization
 (emergency room encounters, hospital admissions).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Primary diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

 -  Clinically stable disease at the time of consent

 -  Current prescription of oxygen; with previous or current oximetry suggesting
 desaturation at rest or during exercises (oxygen saturation ≤88% on at least one
 occasion)

 -  Highest measured FEV1, 70% predicted; and

 -  Highest measured FEV1/FVC, 70% predicted

 -  Capable of giving informed consent

 -  Currently using oxygen system that is either a portable tank; liquid or other Portable
 Oxygen Concentrator (POC)

 -  Mobility without a walker, cane or rollator

 -  Spo2 ≥ 92% on Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) at rest and activity

 -  Non-smoker at time of consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Cardiovascular disease as defined in New York Heart Association Functional Class III

 -  Degenerative bone or joint disease that limits mobility and ability to perform
 activities of daily living and/or exercise

 -  Current homeless persons

 -  Active drug/alcohol dependence

 -  Recent abuse history within the past two years

 -  Clinically unstable at the time of consent

 -  Currently a tobacco smoker