| Abstract |
This study aimed to compare the acute effects of oxygen therapy using a medical oxygen cylinder and a
portable oxygen concentrator (POC) on exercise capacity and dyspnea perception in a patient with interstitial lung disease
(ILD). Methods: This study investigated a 64-year-old male patient with ILD and exertional desaturation who underwent
three 6-min walk tests (6MWT) under different conditions: room air, medical oxygen cylinder, and POC (Inogen One G3).
A single-case repeated measures design with a randomized condition order was used, with a 48-h interval between tests.
Exercise capacity was assessed using a 6-min walk distance (6MWD), while oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and heart rate
were continuously monitored. Dyspnea perception was assessed before and after exercise using the modified Borg CR10
scale, with subcategories of overall dyspnea, difficulty in breathing, and anxiety/fear. Results: Compared with room air
(222 m), both oxygen delivery methods improved the 6MWD (POC, 290 m and +30.6%; cylinder, 281 m and +26.6%).
Oxygen therapy effectively prevented exertional desaturation, with a nadir SpO₂ of 90% (POC) and 92% (cylinder),
compared with 86% on room air. Overall dyspnea decreased from 7 (room air) to 4 (both oxygen therapies). Difficulty
in breathing improved from 3 to 2, while anxiety/fear showed the most significant reduction (from 4 to 2 with POC and
from 4 to 1 with cylinder). Conclusion: Both medical oxygen cylinders and POC improved exercise capacity, maintained
oxygenation, and reduced dyspnea in ILD. No significant differences were observed between the two devices, suggesting
that the POC could be considered a potential alternative to the oxygen cylinder in similar clinical contexts. Furthermore,
oxygen therapy improved the physiological outcomes and reduced psychological distress related to dyspnea. |