Table 1 Characteristics of included studies exploring the role of oxygen therapy in people with refractory dyspnoea who do not qualify for long-term oxygen therapy

From: Oxygen for relief of dyspnoea in mildly- or non-hypoxaemic patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Reference

n

Population

O 2 saturation <90% included?

Intervention

Outcome measure

Results

Quality a

(Philip et al, 2006)

51

Cancer of any type, dyspnoea

Yes 17 (33%)

CA vs O2, 4 l min−1 at rest

100 mm VAS

No significant difference in dyspnoea with O2 vs CA

2

(Ahmedzai et al, 1998, 2004)

12

Lung cancer, dyspnoea on exertion

No

CA vs O2, 8–10 l min−1 during 6MWT

Modified Borg and 100 mm VAS

No significant difference in dyspnoea with O2 vs CA

2

(Bruera et al, 2003)

33

Advanced cancer of any type, dyspnoea at rest or on mild exertion

No

CA vs O2, 5 l min−1 during 6MWT

NRS

No significant difference in dyspnoea with O2 vs CA

5

(Booth et al, 1996, 2004)

38

Advanced cancer of any type, dyspnoea at rest

Yes 6 (16%)

CA vs O2, 4 l min−1 at rest

Modified Borg and 100 mm VAS

No significant difference in dyspnoea with O2 vs CA

2

(Bruera et al, 1993)

14

Advanced cancer of any type, dyspnoea, oxygen saturation < 90%

Yes 14 (100%)

CA vs O2 5 l min−1 at rest

NRS

Significant improvement in dyspnoea with O2 vs CA

2

  1. Abbreviations: CA=compressed air; O2=oxygen; 6MWT=6-min walk test; VAS=visual analog scale; NRS=numerical rating scale.
  2. aQuality as assessed by Jadad score (Jadad et al, 1996).
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