Does supplemental oxygen help COPD patients who have chronic stable moderate hypoxia?

Key Points

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is beneficial in patients with COPD and severe resting hypoxemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure ≤ 55 mm Hg or SpO₂ ≤ 88%) and should be prescribed to improve survival in this population.
Patients with COPD and mild to moderate resting hypoxemia or exercised-induced hypoxemia should not be routinely prescribed LTOT given the associated costs, risks, and burdens and the lack of evidence of benefit.

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