{
    "abstract": "The available evidence on the effects of ambulatory oxygen on exercise impairment in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (F-ILD) is of limited quality.\nWe conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 32 normoxaemic F-ILD patients, desaturating to \u2264\u200988% during a baseline 6-minute walk test (6MWT) on ambient air. After determining the oxygen flow needed to prevent desaturation, patients completed two double-blind 6MWTs with either oxygen or placebo (compressed medical air) at the same personalised flow. Objective measures included oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and distance walked. Patient-reported outcomes, assessed via visual analogue scales, included end-of-test dyspnoea, fatigue, and preferences for walking with oxygen or placebo versus each other and ambient air.\nAmbulatory oxygen, compared to placebo, prevented desaturation, reduced tachycardia, increased walking distance by 37 m (95% CI: 10-74, p\u2009=\u20090.008), and lessened dyspnoea and fatigue. The mean preference score for oxygen over placebo was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.9-3.2, p <\u20090.0005), significantly greater than equivalence. The preference score for placebo over ambient air was -1.5 (-2.4 to 0.64, p =\u20090.005), significantly lower than equivalence, while the score for oxygen over ambient air was 0.4 (-0.7 to 1.5), not significantly different from equivalence.\nOur data confirm that ambulatory oxygen provides significant benefits beyond a placebo effect; although in some patients it is associated with a negative perception that may hinder treatment acceptance. This strengthens the evidence supporting current recommendations and suggests that incorporating patient preferences recorded at the time of the 6MWT into clinical discussions can aid shared decision making regarding ambulatory oxygen.\nClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02668029.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Giuseppina",
            "initials": "G",
            "lastname": "Ciarleglio"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Paolo",
            "initials": "P",
            "lastname": "Cameli"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "David",
            "initials": "D",
            "lastname": "Bennett"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Behar",
            "initials": "B",
            "lastname": "Cekorja"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Paola",
            "initials": "P",
            "lastname": "Rottoli"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield Clinical Group, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and Margaret Turner Warwick Centre for Fibrosing Lung Disease, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.",
            "firstname": "Elisabetta A",
            "initials": "EA",
            "lastname": "Renzoni"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Piersante",
            "initials": "P",
            "lastname": "Sestini"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Respiratory Diseases Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.",
            "firstname": "Elena",
            "initials": "E",
            "lastname": "Bargagli"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "\u00a9 2025 The Author(s). Respirology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Asian Pacific Society of Respirology.",
    "doi": "10.1111/resp.70020",
    "journal": "Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)",
    "keywords": [
        "6\u2010minute walk test",
        "ambulatory oxygen",
        "exercise tolerance",
        "fibrotic interstitial lung diseases",
        "patient preferences"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-03-12",
    "pubmed_id": "40069946",
    "results": "Ambulatory oxygen, compared to placebo, prevented desaturation, reduced tachycardia, increased walking distance by 37 m (95% CI: 10-74, p\u2009=\u20090.008), and lessened dyspnoea and fatigue. The mean preference score for oxygen over placebo was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.9-3.2, p <\u20090.0005), significantly greater than equivalence. The preference score for placebo over ambient air was -1.5 (-2.4 to 0.64, p =\u20090.005), significantly lower than equivalence, while the score for oxygen over ambient air was 0.4 (-0.7 to 1.5), not significantly different from equivalence.",
    "title": "Objective Effects and Patient Preferences for Ambulatory Oxygen in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease With Isolated Exertional Hypoxaemia: A Placebo-Controlled 6-Minute Walk Test Study.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788502e7fe20>"
}